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Heartwings Love Notes 1026 - Making the Spiritual Practical

Heartwings Says, "Spirituality can come down to earth and still keep its wings."

When I was a small child, I had a book I loved called Saints and Friendly Beasts. It was a collection of stories about holy men and women who interacted with animals in unusual ways, living with them or having them be part of their lives. I found the stories to be entrancing. The idea of being a saint was very appealing to me. I heard other stories about people called saints who practiced their faith in open and endearing ways, and their lives seemed to me to be special and attractive.

I even made my own little church in a corner of my family's property and collected moss to make a nice place to kneel. I had a brick for an alter and a cross of twigs sat on it. Nearby was a plot of land where I buried animals that had died, praying over them. We lived in a relatively rural area, so there were dead creatures to be found on the property, and baby chicks, too that didn't survive, as well as occasional pets that had perished whether by accident or old age.

I also had a wonderful book with steel graving illustrations that was filled with Bible parables and stories. These stayed with me and enlivened my imagination. Eventually, of course I got older and became busy with life, and while I didn't forget about such things entirely, they did recede to the back of my mind. Life kept me busy with children to raise and a community to serve, until along came the "New Age" when spirituality became popular and people began publicizing various spiritual though not necessarily religious practices.

My experience is that many people act with spiritual practicality and never realize it. When most people hear the word "spiritual" they think of the word as pertaining to religion. They do not usually think of ordinary everyday life as spiritual, unless the person living it is somehow dedicated to a religious practice or living in a religious manner like a monk or a nun. Yet the rules for living an everyday good life are perfectly spiritual. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," has roots in just about every language and culture.

While this saying is found in the Bible, it's not part of the ten commandments. It is commonly referred to as the golden rule. Look up those words on Google, and you'll be as fascinated as was I to read the variety of versions of that principle. It is not a religious practice because it is not necessary to believe in God to practice it. Moreover, it is an intensely practical way to behave. Treating others as nicely or in as kindly a manner as one treats oneself is a very useful way to live because most times it works in your favor. Generally, people will act toward you in the same way, and furthermore, you are setting a good example for others.

May you live your life as a good example for others to learn from.
 

I love to hear from readers and would be honored if you would comment and let me know any suggestions or thoughts. If a friend sent you this, you can sign up at my web site, www.heartwingslovenotes.com, where more love notes can be found in the archives.

Blessings and Best Regards,
Tasha Halpert
 

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