Interest in spirituality continues growing. More than ever, the
spiritual is the focus of books, magazines, movies, and television talk
shows. A deep hunger for meaning and a hope for personal and universal
peace are what most people express as important in their lives. The
entire world has been collectively affected by the events of September
11. Seemingly, every individual has responded in a unique and personal
way, whether loud and demonstrative or quiet and reflective. What is
evident and what includes and surpasses all that is physical, mental,
and emotional is a spiritual awareness. Spirituality is the common
experience. Spirituality is about searching - about asking questions.
It is the willingness to be vulnerable when challenged with loss and
grief. Even in suffering, spirituality is the purposeful guide for
meaning and hope.

To perfectly define spirituality is very difficult. Language limits the
meaning of the term because it is a concept that is not fully described
in words. Any definition or description is only a starting point on the
path to fully understand spirituality. Your interest in reading this
could mean that you are presently on this path or considering taking
your first steps. Possibly, you are expanding your interest in
spirituality to include that which will bring more meaning to your life
and hope in the midst of constant change.
Spirituality is rooted in the Latin word "spiritus", meaning "breath of
life." Where there is breath, there is movement, and there is spirit.
Ann Coombs writes that the spirit inspires the soul, the non-physical
part of a person. The spirit is always changing and moving within as
the essence of what it means to be human. Spirit is the fundamental
life-force giving drive and direction to human existence.

The spiritual dimension is a creative source of energy and as humans
connect with this energy, a sense of wholeness is present. The
spiritual experience includes a feeling of connectedness where there is
an appreciation for the oneness of reality. Spirituality includes the
human capacity for creativity, growth, love, compassion, and the
development of a value system. Spirituality is often considered as the
source of identity and of personal power and freedom. Dr. Erik Mansager
writes that how an individual responds to the tasks of life becomes an
avenue for understanding spirituality as "part and parcel of a person's
self-styled becoming."

Although spirituality and religion are linked, they are not the same.
Spirituality can be experienced through religious practice yet religion
is not essential to the spontaneous and personal experience of
spirituality. Religion is a prescribed set of beliefs, doctrines, and
ritual activities associated to an organized institution. Religion can
be considered as the traditional, conventional expression of the
spiritual. Spirituality is also expressed through nature, art, and
music and in the practices of meditation and prayer. Caring for others,
mastering knowledge, believing in psychic phenomena and activity in
politics and social justice are also ways that spirituality can be
experienced.

Spirit, God, Source, Universal Consciousness, Higher Power - these are
some, although definitely not all the terms used to describe the
spiritual energy that is present within everyone, in everyday life, in
work, in leisure activities, in relationships with friends and intimate
partners. Timothy Schmaltz writes that God is present in the work of
charity and justice, in business and politics. Spiritual energy is
connected to form the larger community of the universe. The hunger for
spirituality deepens the search for authentic leaders to build
community.

Even when feeling powerless and vulnerable in the face of suffering and
tragedy, you have the freedom of spirituality. This was the experience
for Victor Frankl, who was interned in the concentration camps in World
War II. In spite of very limiting physical and mental conditions, he
was able to retreat from the horrible surroundings to what he describes
as "a life of inner riches and spiritual freedom". Hope is present when
meaning is found in the struggles that life presents. Spirituality is
both the pain and the healing of what caused it. Spirituality is the
sharing of love, peace and joy. Tim Schmaltz writes that spirituality
won't fix all the bad things in the world. It can, however, be the
place where you can live in some light when you are challenged by the
darkness.

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