Spirituality can be cool!

     We are fortunate in Naperville to have such a good school system.  That was part of the reason my wife and I moved here over 20 years ago.  Two of our children have graduated from District 203 schools and are pursuing higher education. But children and teens in Naperville, like other suburbs, face pressures even greater than those my generation faced.   Can spirituality help these young people make good choices?      

     Here are some real examples of how spirituality has helped:  A young teen finds the courage to say no when offered drugs and alcohol, not just once, but many times, often when being ridiculed for his refusal.  A high school student finds comfort through his relationship with God when his dad dies suddenly.  A young man is able to talk to another who is pointing a gun at him, reassuring him of God’s love for both of them, and the other man disarms the gun and they become friends.

     Can spirituality be cool?  As the young man in each of these scenarios, I can answer yes.  Spirituality is not a wimpy weakness that lives in its own world of “getting high on life”.  Spirituality enables each of us to go out into the world with strength, courage and the inner determination to bring God’s deep love to everyone we meet.  Spirituality does not ignore the problems of the world, it heals them.

     Jesus can be a hero in this way of living.  He showed us a life that was not afraid, either when faced by an ugly gang which tried to murder him (Luke 4: 28-31) or when lost in a storm at sea (Mark 4: 35-41).  When the rest of us are confronted by dangerous situations or even just anger, confusion, or worry, here is someone we can follow.  Isn’t the ultimate “cool” the ability to not be stoic, but unafraid, certain, and unworried?  

     Spirituality is the ability to live as God’s (Spirit’s) child.  This helps us realize that we are not the product of our parents, our environment or society, but of an incredibly supportive God who is Love.  This Love, a true Father and Mother, has created us full of spiritual qualities that comprise our current spirituality.  The good qualities we desire so much, but mistakenly look for in many strange and perverse places, are actually within us now.  Intelligence, strength, forgiveness, purity, confidence, the feeling of being loved and able to share love, are within us right now as God’s child.  That’s cool!

           Helping others.  Helping ourselves.  Finding the courage, strength, intelligence and love to live a good life – spirituality - that’s cool!