“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” —A.W. Tozer
When I was in college, I read the preceding quote from the theologian/philosopher A.W. Tozer. The substance was so profound I have never forgotten its message almost 15 years later. It continues to spring up again and again in my mind on a regular basis.
I realize spirituality can be a very touchy topic that arouses countless strong opinions, intellectual arguments, and far too many unspeakable emotional wounds. Nevertheless, I believe the quote above holds true. There is nothing more central to our lives than our understanding of spirituality. And it is a conversation we ought to engage in far more often than we do.
Whether we have intentionally pursued a personal spirituality or not, our beliefs have a profound impact on our lives. Consciously or subconsciously, it influences us in countless ways. Consider how it impacts our understanding of…
- Ourselves. Does God care about me? Is He mad at me or pleased with me? If there is no God, who am I? And where did I orginate?
- Others. Are all lives equal? If so, on what basis? What is my responsibility to care for others?
- Minimalism. If we have removed the pursuit of worldly possessions from our affections, with what will we replace it?
- The world around us. In what specific ways should we care about the world and the environment around us? Is our motivation in this regard more significant than survival of our species? And if so, how do we as humans responsibly interact with it?
- Morality. Is there a moral set of truth for the universe established from a higher power? Or is morality determined by each individual?
- Evil. What am I to understand about the evil and suffering in the world? Is it there for a reason? To what extent should I try to counteract it?
- Money. Does the universe give money/status to some and not others? Or is money/status earned by the individual? What should I do with it when I obtain it? Do I hold any responsibility to care for those with less?
- Afterlife. Is there life after death? Is death something to be feared or welcomed? And either way, how should I be preparing for it today?
No doubt, our understanding of spirituality carries great influence on our lives. For that reason, one of the most significant journeys we can ever embark upon is the exploration of it.
I understand fully this community is made up of readers from every imaginable religious/non-religious background. I am so very thankful for that reality. And I should be quick to mention this post is not an endorsement of any specific religion. Instead, my hope is only to prompt each of us to further consider the role of spirituality in our everyday lives. And cause us to joyfully embrace the journey rather than shy away from it.
Because of the important role it plays, you will never regret any time spent furthering your understanding of the Universe. Whether you have never tried, have tried but given up, or spend time everyday seeking one specific God, let me offer seven beginning steps that are central to our personal exploration of spirituality.
A Beginner’s Guide to Exploring Spirituality
1. Respect those that have gone before. The quest to understand spirituality is as old as humanity itself. Billions have gone before and have spent countless hours seeking spirituality. Don‘t overlook their efforts. Consider their findings and their writings—even those outside the religion you have become accustomed to.
2. Your journey must be your own. You alone must be the decision-maker for your view of God. You should not blindly accept the teachings of another (even your closest mentor or parent). Your heart must ring true and your spirit must rejoice in your spirituality—or it is worthless.
3. Start right where you are. We all have special gifts of character: compassion, laughter, self-discipline, love, etc. Use them as your starting point. Are you facing a trial in life (disease, loss, rejection)? Use it as motivation to further pursue your understanding of spirituality. Lao-tzu once said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” He was right in every regard. Start your journey with whatever first step makes the most sense to you.
4. Ask God for help. By this I mean, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by making the request. If there is a God, He may answer your prayer. And if there is no God, the process of making the request will still work to help focus your senses and desire.
5. Practice, practice, practice. Like everything else in life, spiritual growth is mastered through practice. If you don’t find your answers after your first few steps, take some more in a different direction. It will require time, effort, and energy. But given its influence on our lives, it is always worth the effort in the end.
6. Don’t be afraid of unanswered questions. Although leaving questions unanswered may sound contrary to the goal of the pursuit, we should not be afraid of them. These unanswered questions will cause some to forever abandon the journey. And while our spirituality should make sense of our heart‘s deepest questions, it would seem unreasonable to believe our minds could successfully fathom all the mysteries of the universe.
7. Be wary of “everyone is right” thinking. If there is no God, there is no God. If there is a God, He is something specific. Personally, I am skeptical of the thinking that says God can change from one person to another—that philosophy crumbles under the weight of its own logic. God is who God is. And it‘s our responsibility to successfully find Him.
Again, I realize fully this journey is going to look different for every single one of us. Spirituality is a highly personal matter and will likely result in different outcomes. This is not a post that endorses any specific religion. It is simply a post of encouragement and a reminder this journey is important.
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I do not typically moderate comments too closely (unless they turn offensive). But I might make a suggestion for this post. In the comments below, I would be interested to hear about your personal journey toward spirituality. How did it begin? And how did you arrive at your understanding? I think this conversation will be more helpful and encouraging than a specific argument made for choosing your view.
Image: overgraeme
Jane Doe says
My mother my whole life was Mormon, up until I was 7 years old. She wrote a book, which I won’t name here as not to DOX myself and respect her, about her near death experience where she met God. I grew up thinking that I lucked out, knowing exactly what happens in the afterlife and who’s religion was “right”. But then, she decided suddenly that she wasn’t Mormon anymore.
My siblings are envious of me, saying she used to inflict the fear of God in them. One day in the car she got a phone call, and was never the same again after that. To this day, I have no idea what was on that phone call. I’ve asked her more than once, and she’s baffled with the idea that a single phone call could have changed everything like that. That it wasn’t sudden to her. But it was sudden to me, and a core memory.
Suddenly she smokes cigarettes, she’s telling her children to be who they truly are. She’s talking to her mother again, after growing up briefly in a disgusting and terrifying cult. I was allowed to stay over at people’s houses as I pleased, as a teenager I came to her drunk and high or depressed about breakups and knew no matter what that she loved me the same.
Suddenly the idea of God wasn’t even spoken in the house anymore. She would joke saying “let’s pray before eating” and my siblings would laugh and tell her to shut up. It’s so odd to have everything flipped upside down, and for upside down to feel so correct. To see my mother able to joke about these things, and to be so close with my mom that we can say anything to her.
And now, I’m confused. I have a strong set of beliefs, one based in rigorous soul searching. But to feel as if I believed blindly because of my mother and to suddenly be told “actually, I was wrong” after she received proof of her belief system, I don’t know how to make the right choice. And for one, I don’t align with a spirituality that has a name to my knowledge, and I am frustrated trying to find anyone with a similar idea of what I feel.
I feel in my soul that God the name of a sheet of mathematics, a giant fractal of a pattern of numbers that are the “code” to life’s existence. The reason a flower knows how to be a flower, that it’s a piece of this fractal. And that I don’t mean this to say that God is unfeeling mechanical either. But rather the opposite, that our feelings, our beliefs and thoughts are mathematical. And that although I believe in freewill, I also believe that our actions, thoughts, and the seconds that tick by between them create new limbs of this fractal, and thus creates an equal reaction elsewhere (like a quantum twin). This is how our decisions affect others.
The second part of this belief system in the Universe, the place where this fractal unfurls. I believe that the Universe helps create separation in this fractal, so that we can exist separately instead of as a part of God. Like a grid with boxes, my existence is a “box”. But along a third axis, this box extends for every moment that passes, another grid. That I am a different piece the next moment. This means that the past exists as an extension of the self, in a separate box. I believe that we are in a symbiotic relationship with God, to extend the organism as much as possible with our experiences and life. The purpose being to look on a life that were proud of at the end of it, a beautiful personal piece of the fractal.
The third and final aspect of what I believe is the Universal hive mind. That if I need to manifest, to communicate, to understand with or through God, that I just need to ask that piece of myself that already is God. That if we’re all little pieces of God, down to the dirt and as far as the nebulas, then it is easy to communicate by asking the Universe as if it’s a librarian. Like asking for a history book, and the Universe brings it to you. You just need to know how to communicate, and that everyone does it in different ways.
I sometimes think that phone call my mother answered decades ago didn’t exist in her version of reality, only in mine. A literal “call to action” to question my compliance. Her equal reaction that affected my life.
I have had confirmation in my beliefs in many ways. Meditation, premonition, and divination. Ever since I started taking myself seriously instead of thinking I was silly, I’ve seen and done such incredible things. But that’s why I’m even here, commenting on this article. The Universe has asked me to figure out what I actually believe in. To take part in existing rituals the right way. To learn from masters of different religions and practice respectfully to extend my knowledge of what I believe in, and learn to properly execute my own belief system.
But I’ve been frustrated, and I don’t understand now. I am attempting to learn more about the institutions and methods in which I communicate with God, but I’m stumped. I don’t know what to look into, the closest information I can find is through occultism. But that’s much too broad a subject.
I think I may have just needed to tell someone about the way that I feel. I haven’t spoken to many people in the last 5 years. It’s lonely to search for a sense of sameness in spirituality when I haven’t found any information of anyone believing what I do, or even a similarity in another sense of belief. If you have any suggestions on what I should look into, even if it’s just a good book or to hear your sense of sameness, feel free to reply. But I appreciate if you’ve read this far, and I wish you luck in your journey to understanding your relationship with spirituality.
Lisa Minchington says
Hiya, I can relate to what you’re saying. Some teachings I have been interested in lately are bahai and kriya yoga. My main guide is Jesus (Yeshua) on how to walk in both worlds at a safe pace and direction etc. I like Eckhart Tolle, esp. stillness speaks.
I like to be a light (everything that is good and lovely and perfect) detective.
Lisa Minchington says
NDE studies are very telling.
Gany says
Hi Jane,
It was very soothing reading about your spiritual journey. Honestly, I stumbled upon this article by searching on Google and didn’t expect I’d be reading something profound even in the comments section too. I agree with you, that there is God within us.. and all we need to do is ask from that part of us that is connected to the Universe.
It may seem overwhelming to even think a part of the Universe resides within us considering its vastness and might, but I believe no matter how infinitesimal we feel, our actions affect the Universe. It changes with us. 🙂
I’m trying to find my way back to my spirituality… I feel like I have diverged into what I truly want to experience in this life. I’m rooting for you and everyone’s spiritual journey. May we find bliss in search for meaning, even if we won’t find the answers. Not until after our last breath perhaps? or maybe not.. let’s see. 😊
Rayma Coday says
I am almost 80 years old. I had an abusive childhood, but became a psychotherapist and pretty much worked through that stuff. The focus of my 40-plus year career was working with abused, angry, violent kids.
I was basically a choir member/weekend Christian until retirement in 2017. Joined a bible based church, spent some years studying the bible and developing a personal relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
About four years ago, I began an intense study of NDE’s. (I was extremely interested in Moody’s book in 1975, but so busy with work, I put it on back burner.)
Reading about the experiences NDE’ers described, I couldn’t avoid the understanding that my current Christian beliefs did not address all the information I was internalizing. First response was sadness. I love the God of my religion. I rely on the Holy Spirit every day! I don’t WANT to give that up!!
I very quickly determined that I WOULDN’T give up anything I didn’t want to, and I felt sure in my heart I wouldn’t be punished for my continued love of Jesus.
Fine.
So here I am. And—my MAJOR emotional
angst is that I have always been certain that I have NO ability to access a more “spiritual knowing.” Since I was young, I would hear about a supernatural experience or two that my mother and grandmother had experienced. I was so envious! I would beg the universe to give me a “sign” of some kind, and throughout my life I got dead silence. I’m still pretty sure I’m a very young soul. I WISH it weren’t so, but I sure feel like the “thin veil” that’s so often mentioned, is an iron curtain in my case.☹️
Regardless. I am determined to continue on my quest to learn all that I can. I am great at reading ( listening) to books and podcasts, but I am having an inordinately difficult time getting started on a meditation schedule. What an understatement! I have NEVER meditated, and I don’t truly know why I keep stalling. I felt it necessary to buy high quality headphones 🙄 , and they’ve been in the box since Christmas. I have, for a couple years, been saying, “I’m SUCH a lazy arse!” believing that’s the holdup, but as I’m writing, that seems insufficient. I AM determined to try it out, and see what happens, but I’m not sure what to use as an aide.
Bottom line: (1) I’m looking for books or blogs, etc., of well respected teachers.
(2) I’m want, so much, to think there are other beginners LIKE ME who, sadly, exhibit NO spiritual sensitivities, or advanced “knowings”, but still have a passion to grow-if it’s possible.
Thank you so much for caring.
Sanet says
I am so pleased I found your article. I was a forced conservative Christian since childhood but it just never made sense to me. So when I could I left Christianity and just floated.
At 68 I went back to college and one of my pathways happened to be world religions. Although I find them all compelling and answering some questions I have not found my true spiritual home yet.
I would love to read your book.
Alex Banjo says
I need help to a lot of questions because lately I see and hear everything the way the were met to be and I think I need someone to talk about it.
Tara says
I was a addict from a young age. Exploring drugs alcohol and moving away when I was 15 and not returning till I was 18. I Concorde my heroin addiction when I had kids and stayed clean for years only to relapse 4 years ago on minor drugs. After two years me and my husband of 16 years split. And I had rejection trauma from my family that gave me schizophrenia. Was that and is it ever a experience. Like LSD or shrooms all the time. After my diagnosis I was left all on my own in the world not a friend or family member who cared for me. I lost my kids to my ex and his family and am now a meth addict that’s tried everything to quit. I once had a life that made sense and I could talk and remember things I can’t anymore. Since the schizophrenia I know little happiness and am always alone. My own kids are strangers and don’t bother. I don’t know what to do. I know I can’t go back. Forward is the only way to go. So to make my life have meaning for it’s devoid of it or any happiness I was browsing today and came across this helpful article. This is the beginnings and first thoughts on accumulated knowledge. I cleaned out a room in my house I was going to rent and plan to make it my office for lack of better words. Spiritual sanctuary Mabey. I began by gathering a family history and as many pictures as I could of ancestors all written in a leather book. My favorite ancestors are in frames on a desk. I do ancestor veneration by burning candles insense and pouring cold fresh water for them in a small clear mug. I figure knowing those you descend from and thinking about there best qualitys may grow them in myself. Second since it’s a well lit room I put prisms everywhere to catch the sun and it’s filled with my plants because I’m a avid gardener. I’m beginning to minimalize. I started a prosperity alter in one corner sorta pagan but it draws money to me. Saving odd bills and coins and a statue of a chipmunk I saved and came to me in a dream and gave me a nut. I am thinking of building a library on there for my books but it’s becoming a shelter. That’s as far as I’ve gotten I’ve spent most of the night trying to figure out who my patron saint is and will be meditating most of the next month to figure out who my messenger spirit is. The spirit that takes your messages to the ears of those that need them and assble your spiritual court of which your ancestors spirit guides ect all your inspiration comprise of. That’s where I stand. I’m figuring it out as I go. Good luck everyone.
Alitza ♓️ Colon🐟 says
this story is very important to many thank you for sharing. i found it ver interesting and informative and i am inspired by you. Glad for your success and hope you are happy where you are now
Emma Pike says
Iv struggled with addiction from a very young age I was barely a teenager when I started taking drugs, and I had already started drinking alcohol with my friends. My parents were drug addicts and I suffered alot of physical abuse my mother was violent and mentally abusive. From my mother. Up until the age of 11/12 my father worked so he didn’t know how bad my mother was with me, I was also treated like a dog, I say this because I wasn’t under any circumstances allowed inside my home until it was 8pm winter / summer
Rain, hail, or snow. Not to mention that this all was happening before the age of 7. that’s when my sister was born. We moved not long after that to a bigger place. Even though I was just a child myself I was the one who looked after my sister, but I felt resentful with my sister at times because I couldn’t enjoy myself with my friends because I had to bring her with me and she was slowing us down of course she was, she was just a toddler with a child trying to make sure she was been looked after. Eventually she got old enough to have her own friends so she would be off playing with them.. this is when the drinking started…. my mother and father’s addiction got to breaking point he had no job and a bad herion addiction and I use to be worried sick when I new that there was no money for there drug habit and they were going to be feeling the sickness from the withdrawals it was a living hell. But unfortunately my mother died when I was 15 I started smoking herion with my father and 3 years later he passed leave me a my brother. I got clean so I could give my sister a better life I got a new home done alot of therapy and started to learn about myself. Unfortunately after 8 years drugs and alcohol free I relapsed worse mistake I made. I had built up so much in recovery had kids went back to education and done alot of soul searching letting go of guilt and shame I grew up into a confidant woman so when I relapse I lost everything down to my children and still don’t have them back today this is 3 years iv been stuck.. but something happened because of my drugs use I suffer with my breathing problems because of asthma but what happened to me could have happened regardless because of my illness. J rang an ambulance and can’t remember anything after that. I was found out in the hall of my apartment complex lips blue struggling to breathe as I said I don’t remember. I was put into a inducedcomoa for 5 day and when I got of what happened I feel like something helped keep me alive and want to explore spirituality to use in my life to help me better my life and to guide me.
David Bauer says
Find yourself and your children and family will find you spirituality when you connect to the other side and the other side connects with you with the love of Christ in you your heart and your spirit and soul let your mind go free and the light in yourself w i l l soon reach heaven and heaven will reach back spirituality and you will find a better day and night we all have a little light of the Lord in US each day gets brighter keep the Lord Jesus Christ in your mind and heart It could only get brighter
Brett Higgins says
i need help I am a sinner
David Bauer says
We are all sinners I’d be lying if we were not dear Jesus forgive me for I am a sinner Christ in your heart and in your mind will always make your day and night a little bit brighter