Spirituality...What does it mean to you?

What does spirituality mean to you?

I realize that talking about religion is somewhat taboo, and can surely turn some people off. That is not my objective here. My goal is to bring thoughts to mind that we can share.

After spending the morning at church, shopping for our Thanksgiving celebration and watching Disney's A Christmas Carol with the children, I can't help but think tonight. Most of my thoughts seem to be floating around the Ghost of Christmas to Come. I wonder what changes I need to make to eliminate regret in the future. As parents, we all have regrets. Sometimes it's five minutes after we over-react to a situation; sometimes it's 5 years after we see the result of a parental decision we made. But, as individuals, we continue to learn. There is always room for growth.

Religion is great. Each one is somewhat unique but all follow the concept that we believe in a higher source responsible for this earth, this race and all that is. Our religions set rules for us to follow and if we live within those guidelines we feel we are good people.

Spirituality on the other hand is much deeper. It is not what you have been taught. It is what you believe deep in your soul. In most instances you don't even know why, but you are sure that there is truth there and live according to it. Spirituality is how we are connected.

Let's ponder on that, and please, share your thoughts.

Blessings

Sometimes in life we are presented with opportunities to help others. When we do the feeling it brings is a blessing. The joy of helping someone in need can be overwhelming. I had one of those experiences the other day. It went like this:

I was at the grocery store check-out. There was an elderly man two people ahead of me. He looked very distressed. I heard the clerk tell him how much he owed. He stood there digging in his pockets, only to come up with change. The next thing I saw was the clerk voided some of his items. It broke my heart to see the embarrassment in his eyes. He kept looking at the items, looking in his pockets, looking in his hands at the coins. I stood there watching. He had big hands, working hands. I could see that he had worked hard in his life, with those hands. As the next woman paid for her transaction, the man walked slowly to the exit, looking back at the items he couldn't afford. I could see he needed the items. I continued to watch him as he exited the store and stood there at the exit, not moving.

I knew he needed the items. I told the clerk that I would like to pay for the items the man couldn't afford. I walked over to another clerk to retrieve the items they had placed in a cart, full of other items patrons had to leave behind. I paid for the three items he returned.

I can't explain how it felt. I felt like I was completing a test. A test from above and I succeeded in fulfilling my task. The task of helping someone in need. Someone I didn't know. Someone I knew nothing of. Someone who was also a human being, connected to me in the way we are all connected, as children of God.

I thought long and hard about writing this in my blog. I decided to, so that I could share my blessing. I do not want praise or thanks. I know my Father in heaven smiled when I helped the man, and that is enough for me. I only hope to have the opportunity to help someone again.

So, when you see someone in need. Please think of my story. Life can be a struggle, but together we will survive and giving is a blessing as well as receiving. We all need help sometimes, and when we give it, we have the opportunity to realize how much we have to be grateful for. It would be easy for someone to ignore his need. I witnessed it. BUT, I am glad that I didn't.

Have a great day and God Bless you all.