The Heart of Spirituality
Sitting in a discussion this evening, the Prayer of St. Francis came up in relation to being spiritual. The prayer was held up as the heart of spirituality since it is the listing of doing God's will in our lives. That insight was an "A-Ha!" moment. If one is to be spiritual, this is what it means in life. Being spiritual is not how well we pray or how "spiritual" we appear. It is in how we live the spiritual life. It is not possible for an institution to live this way. Institutions need religion. This is for how people live what God wants- and THAT is what being spiritual is all about.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is discord, harmony.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sorrow, joy.
Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not
so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life."
