Inner Coaching

In my very first journal entry I suggested that spirituality is -

• an AWARENESS of depth, complexity & time in everything,
• an ATTENTION to that which is inside me, around me, beyond me,
• a MOVEMENT of meaning making beyond the ego to the eternal and ultimate,
• A PRACTICE of doing, being and belonging

It is time to look at the second of these………….

1. Spirituality is an ATTENTION to that which is inside me, around me, beyond me

What I mean by ‘attention’ is a curious noticing like the way an artist will notice a landscape or a still life composition. But is not just looking, this ‘giving attention’ is also listening with the ears and ‘knowing’ with the heart. Neither is it a passive observation. In spirituality it is an attention where the observer is open to be changed and moved by what is encountered.

INSIDE ME – I notice I am getting older, the physical change. I want to use the word ‘decay’ because all this is going only one way and that triggers functions within spirituality. I listen to what I say and notice how my words can heal and hurt. I notice the worst of me; my demanding ego and self-centredness, how I am often so selfish and full of fear. From these, sparks greed and violent thoughts. I also notice the best in me, how I can be so creative and sometimes even selfless and patient. I know that joy can seemingly bubble up from nowhere. I feel sure this is all the work of my inner-life or the spirit and ‘spirituality’ is the noticing it.

A spiritual response to this honest self examination is self-gentleness or denial

AROUND ME – I am certain that spirituality is not only about me. It is not even mainly or primarily about me. The spiritual life is about us in the world. So being a member of ‘us’, together and my individual spirituality or the activity of the spirit is giving attention to that which is around me/us. Attention to the living universe. At its best the life of the spirit notices the changes of the season, the song of the robin, the rhythm of the tide, the faithfulness of the sun, the polluted rivers, the strength of the typhoon, the damaged climate, the absence of insects.

An active spirituality also notices the marginalised, vulnerable and discriminated. I really wonder if there is a healthy spirituality without this. Jesus of Nazareth said such people were the first and the most welcome. I’m sure real and true spirituality and wisdom belong to such groups. Spirituality is not a nice session of yoga on the lawn – that is just a nice session of yoga on the lawn. Spirituality I feel sure inhabits an uncomfortable space of injustice and tries to hear the voice of those for whom it is denied.

A spiritual response to this attention beyond ourself is open heartedness or spiritual self-centredness.

BEYOND ME – Any discussion about spirituality will, at some point, need to think about ‘the beyond’. For some this will include a conversation about God who, some will say, is both very close and present and yet also transcendent – beyond us. But others will not be able to speak of God. Does that mean they will not speak of that which is beyond? I don’t think so. Doesn’t it seem as if our inner-lives wishes to move us beyond our bodies, our everyday life the ‘here and now’ and draw us beyond all that to an eternity? Do we not recognise eternity in a moment of love, a beautiful sunset, the gentle death of a loved one? I’m finding this most difficult to describe – but isn’t it almost as if we are drawn to that which is beyond? If that is the case, and I think it is, then spirituality is giving attention to this and allowing our inner-lives to go where it may lead.

A spiritual response to attention to the beyond is wonder in mystery or being lost in the ‘dark night’ of the soul.