Weekly Spiritual Reflections  

I was going through my files the other day and happened to come across some notes I had written on prayer and spirituality that were dated in 1995. The notes were taken from an article I read in a periodical called “Review for Religious.” I don‘t have the article any more but the notes I took listed the following signs of a healthy spirituality:

I pondered over this list again and I think all these signs are relevant for today in fostering a healthy spirituality. Spirituality is about paying attention to God and living with a mindfulness of God’s perspective on life. Spirituality is about nurturing our interior prayer life, praying with the desires of our heart, and taking seriously our relationship with God throughout our daily lives.

A healthy spirituality is about community and living in relationships that are positive and empowering of one another. It is about being open to the possibilities of all of life and being grounded in who you are, knowing yourself as deeply as you possibly can. Spirituality is about staying grounded in God when the going gets tough and life becomes difficult. A healthy spirituality is about having a heart of gratitude, being grateful in all aspects of our lives, living in thanksgiving each day, moment by moment. Most of all, spirituality is about showing up and being present for prayer on a regular basis. In a way it is like physical fitness; you feel better and become healthy when you exercise on a regular basis. A steady diet of prayer leads to a greater depth of one’s spirit.

What helps you foster a healthy spirituality in your life? What are the signs that your spirit is in good health? What do you need to do to move toward a healthy spirituality?

Blessings and courage this day!

Denise Pyles, M.Div.

Visit me at Weekly Spiritual Reflections