Tending to the Spirit: Discovering Your True Self

In the fundamentalist churches that I used to attend when I was younger, there was a great deal of suspicion about what we called "New Age" beliefs. 

We were taught that Christians ought not to practice yoga, meditate, or recite prayers like a mantra because it could very well open our vulnerable souls to the work of the Devil. 

We were also told that these things were "escapes" from reality and also distractions from our true purpose as Christians, which was to tell people they were going to Hell if they weren't one of us.  

I had all but forgotten those things until years later, I worked in a Presbyterian church where yoga classes were proposed, and roundly shot down by the church leadership because they were too "Eastern." 

By that, they meant that they believed that they were too Buddhist or Hindu, and had no place in a Christian church.  

I've often wondered why these things were so threatening to many Christians, especially as I began to read more about the mysticism and spiritual lives of so many of the early Church fathers and mothers. 

There is this quote by Henri Nouwen, the late Catholic theologian and author who wrote a great deal about spirituality that has always spoken to me:   

“The spiritual life does not remove us from the world but leads us deeper into it.”  

This simple yet profound insight should prompt us to reevaluate our understanding of spirituality, particularly within the Christian tradition. 

It reminds us that tending to our spirit is not a retreat from reality or an escape from life's demands, but rather a sacred journey that enriches our engagement with God's creation.

In a Christian culture that often dismisses spirituality as a way to escape or as a slippery slope into relativism and pluralism, it’s vital to remember that Christianity has a long history of mystical insight and vibrant spiritual practice. 

From the contemplative writings of St. John of the Cross and Teresa of Ávila to the tender reflections of Julian of Norwich and the visionary works of Meister Eckhart, Christian mystics have demonstrated that spiritual communion with God deepens our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. 

Their experiences reveal that spiritual practices—such as prayer, meditation, silence, and sacrament—are not optional add-ons, but core elements woven into the fabric of Christian life and theology.

Christian spirituality is rooted in the very life of Jesus Christ, who exemplifies the intimate relationship between divine and human. 

Following Jesus means embracing a spiritual path that transforms us from within, redirecting our focus from superficial achievements to the discovery of our true selves in Christ. 

This pursuit involves tending to our inner life with intentionality, carving out space for prayer and reflection amid the busyness of daily existence. As we do so, we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit’s work, allowing God to shape our identity and reveal who we are meant to be.

Embracing our Christian tradition and our identity as followers of Jesus does not diminish our engagement with the world; instead, it sets us free to love more fully and serve more genuinely. 

Our spiritual practices serve as a mirror, reflecting our authentic selves in the light of God's grace, and empowering us to live out our faith authentically and courageously.

So, let us commit to tending our spirits faithfully, knowing that this is the way to discover not only who God is, but who we are in Him. This journey invites us into a deeper relationship with Christ, where our true selves are revealed and our potential is realized. 

As we walk this spiritual path, we step into the fullness of life that Jesus promises—life that is vibrant, transformative, and rooted in the love of God.

May it be so, and may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all, now and forever.