My Soul's Journey

Dear Friend,

Let me share a little about my soul’s journey . . .

For many years, my own spirituality was far from joyful. In my mid-twenties, I joined a church that initially felt warm, supportive, and loving. How could I not want to be part of that? But after a few years of my life being micromanaged by their agenda, I felt lost, hurt, and confused. I often cried, feeling conflicted. I thought God* wanted me to live life to the fullest—but I didn’t realize that meant a life full of church-organized activities I couldn’t opt out of without being "rebuked."

Losing myself – the person I believed God created me to be – for “the gospel” was not something I could continue to do. So I left that church—and left God for a while, too. It took years to rediscover that God did indeed want a full life for me—a life of joy. Through many ups and downs, I’ve learned that joy is possible, and essential, even on the hardest days. I also realized that the church's teaching was just one version of the gospel—not the only one.

I often use the word “soul” rather than “spirit.” For me, “soul” speaks to the whole of who we are—mind, heart, body, and spirit. As John O'Donohue beautifully puts it, our body is within our soul. He writes, “Your soul has more refined antennae than your mind or ego.” "Soul" is holistic. It touches every aspect of our lives, while "spiritual" has often been viewed as separate from our everyday, earthly existence.

When we choose joy, we are tending to our soul. I find joy in gardening, walking, creating art, enjoying good food, sharing time with family and friends and reading the works of spiritual writers. These moments, too, are where I connect with God. These are my soul-care or spiritual practices.