Spirituality Is Our Daily Life

Centuries ago a wandering rabbi was asked by someone what he, a lay man, could do to become a more spiritual person. The rabbi replied that he should love God with everything he had and to love his neighbor as he loved himself.  He added that these two principles were the foundation of all true religion, all true spirituality. The questioner then asked, "Who is my neighbor?"  The rabbi rejoined, "Everyone is your neighbor."

The underlying principle here is that we express our love of God by how we treat each person we encounter.  It's how we treat our spouses, our children, our parents, the people next door or down the street, the person behind the counter at the 7-Eleven.  It's how we treat the person who cuts us off in traffic, the person who belittles us at work or at school, the person who hates us because we have different political beliefs.

Admittedly, this is often hard to do with those folks who seem to delight in being mean or hurtful.  Still, no one said that spirituality was easy.  It helps to remember that we have no idea what has happened in the life of any one person we may encounter.  We don't know if they have just had the worst day of their life, we abused as a child or just never learned that good manners are the oil that lubricates the machinery of life.  We don't know.

What we do know is that if we treat everyone we meet with kindness and consideration then we are happier. We are drawing closer to God. We are in the center  of God's intention for this world. And maybe through our example we are helping them to learn to draw closer to God themselves.

Another area that we can think of where we can demonstrate God's love is in returning the love given us by others by thoughtful action.  What little kindness or helpful thing can we do for our wife or husband, our parents or our children?  How can we be completely present with them in love each day? These things may mean more to them than all the jewels of the earth or any toy or material thing we can buy. Try asking those we love and who love us, "What can I do today to show you I love you?"

Love is what we do more than what we feel or say.  Love in action is more powerful than a hydrogen bomb, more penetrating than an x-ray, more healing than any medicine or therapy.

 Love really can change the world.  If every person acted out of love for every other person violence would disappear.  Discrimination would disappear. Hate would be impossible.  For where love is, there is God and where God is there is peace, there is freedom and there is joy.

So today I am going to try to be as loving and kind as I can to everyone I meet.  I will try to see each of them as God's beloved child.  I may fail, as I so often do, but I will try.