“The life of the spirit is centrally and essentially a life of action. Spirituality is something done, not merely something believed or known or experienced.” – Mary McDermott Shideler

“Spirituality is action.”

– “In God’s Care*: Daily Meditations on Spirituality in Recovery,” April 6
*As We Understand God

Ya know, it’s pretty easy to go sit on a mountain top and be alone, not having to deal with people. I’d guess it’s boring too.

Life is about relationships, which makes it rich. It is when I am actively engaged with others—friends, family, work colleagues, et al—that my greatest challenges arise and I learn, and I realize my greatest joys too. Exercising my spirituality means that I get to see how much my God-like and God-given qualities are in play. In my interactions with others, am I being kind? Patient? Compassionate? Loving? Helpful?

Those, of course, are just a few of the qualities of Spirit, but as you can see, they’re not easily evident until I am interacting, into action with others.

By being in action with my Spirit qualities I get to gauge the progress I’ve made on my spiritual journey. If a driver does not allow me into their lane, how do I react? Do I curse at them or do I simply bless them and continue on my way? The latter way is not only spirituality in action towards another, but it permits me to be in peace, another attribute of God.

If you examine individuals who are considered spiritual, for example, Mother Teresa, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mahatma Gandhi, none kept idle with their spiritual beliefs, but rather were in action and of service.

Life is surely an adventure, but only when we are actively engaged in it and with others. Spirit shows us the way.