Prompt: How important is spirituality in your life?

I really do not like the word ‘spirituality’. it conjures up all sort of weird beliefs, new age nonsense, meditation, and tree hugging.

Spirituality to me is all about my relationship with the one true God and His son Jesus Christ.

This is of course a deeply personal way to define spirituality. In Christian belief, spirituality is often understood as the ongoing, living relationship between a person and God through Jesus Christ. It’s not just about religious practices or doctrines—it’s about connection, trust, and transformation.

This relationship is rooted in love, grace, and faith. Jesus himself described it in intimate terms: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit” (John 15:5). That imagery speaks to a constant, life-giving connection.

To many believers, this relationship means:

• Trusting in Jesus as Savior and Lord.
• Communicating through prayer, not just speaking but listening.
• Living in alignment with His teachings, out of love rather than obligation.
• Experiencing His presence in daily life—through peace, conviction, joy, and guidance.

It’s also a relationship that grows. Like any relationship, it deepens with time, honesty, and shared experience. And it’s sustained by grace—God’s unearned favor—not by perfection.

However, there are different and diverse thoughts on Spirituality, so let’s just explore a few of them:

Spirituality is a deeply personal and diverse concept, and people experience it in many different ways depending on their beliefs, culture, and life experiences. Here are some of the most common perspectives:

1. Theistic Spirituality – This is the view I mentioned earlier: a relationship with a personal God, often expressed through prayer, worship, and scripture. It’s central to many religions like Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
2. Nature-Based Spirituality – Some people feel a profound connection to the natural world. They find the sacred in forests, oceans, stars, and the rhythms of the earth. This is often seen in indigenous traditions and eco-spiritual movements.
3. Metaphysical or New Age Spirituality – This path focuses on energy, consciousness, and the interconnectedness of all things. Practices might include meditation, crystals, astrology, or energy healing. It’s less about doctrine and more about personal exploration.
4. Humanistic Spirituality – Here, the sacred is found in human potential, compassion, and ethical living. It’s often secular, emphasizing values like kindness, justice, and inner peace without necessarily invoking a deity.
5. Mystical Spirituality – This involves direct, often ineffable experiences of the divine or ultimate reality. Mystics across traditions—like Christian contemplatives, Sufi poets, or Zen monks—seek union with the sacred through silence, meditation, or ecstatic prayer.
6. Post-Religious Spirituality – Some people leave organized religion but still seek meaning, connection, and transcendence. They might describe themselves as “spiritual but not religious,” drawing from multiple traditions or forging their own path.
7. Philosophical or Existential Spirituality – This view explores life’s big questions—like purpose, suffering, and mortality—through reason, reflection, and dialogue. Thinkers like Socrates, Kierkegaard, or even modern psychologists contribute to this stream.

Each of these paths offers a different lens on what it means to be spiritual. Some people stick to one; others blend elements from several. Which of these resonates with you—or challenges you—in your own journey?

To me there is only one spirituality, one Father, one Son, one Holy Spirit — One triune God.