Summer Renewal and Spirituality

As the days of summer continue, not only is this a time for mental and physical renewal, but it can become a time for spiritual renewal. Spirituality is different than one's religious affiliation, and whether or not we believe in God or a higher power doesn't matter. Many people are comforted by the rituals of a church while others are comforted by nature or quiet time spent in solitude.

We must learn to know ourselves and learn what aids us in feeling peaceful and content with our circumstances. For some people, just being outside on a beautiful summer's day can fill them with a sense of peace and contentment about their life. Watching children at play or enjoying the ebb and flow of the ocean can be as fulfilling to some people as sitting through a church service is for others.

Recently, I felt the need to return to the rituals of the church of my upbringing. The pews were cushioned in the church which I chose to attend one Sunday morning, and I also knew that I could sit while others stood if I needed to do so. After the service, which I attended with a friend and her daughter, another friend, whom I hadn't seen in a long time, approached me and asked if I was in pain. Looking perfectly healthy, and yet being in a great deal of pain does show on my face at times, and this woman noticed. I explained that I had fibromyalgia, and although she had known that I had some condition, she didn't realize how much pain I was in most of the time.

By isolating ourselves from situations in which we know will create more pain, we are also isolating ourselves from others. Spirituality is generally a solitary experience, yet joining with others in celebrating life can be an important part of our own inner spiritual growth. It doesn't have to take place in a church, and we can even have spiritual experiences while enjoying nature, life, and gathering together with friends.

Taking a walk along the beach, lying near a lake, or just sitting outside in our own yards and enjoying the company of others or in solitude can bring the sense of wholeness that our bodies, minds, and spirits crave.

Since I spend two days each week visiting my father-in-law in a care facility, I've been blessed to experience the joy of giving what I can to not only him, but to some of the other elderly people in the facility. Granted, I'm tired and in pain after each visit, but the joy which I feel by watching these ill and elderly people care for each other is worth it to me. Watching their faces light up when I call them by name and take the time to just sit with them reminds me of how blessed I am to be able to walk, think, and do the limited things that I can do now.

Not all of us who have fibromyalgia are able to do as much as others, and I've noticed that my ability to do physical activities is less than it was a year ago, but I continue to give what I can. It is when we become selfish, and whine and complain about our lot in life that we lose perspective of our spiritual side. We can become bitter and angry over our losses, but if we stop and think about the blessings and gifts that having fibromyalgia can actually give to us, we may be surprised.

I may have chosen to attend church on a summer's day in order to feel a spiritual connection that was lacking in my life, but I could have just as easily have taken a walk along the beach with a close friend or family member. I also could have walked one of my dogs through a nature park, or just walked by myself. It doesn't matter what we chose to do in order to feel connected to our own personal spiritual side, but it is important to remember that we are not just physical and mental beings, but also have a spiritual connection to either a God of our understanding, a higher power, or to nature.

I also needed a long nap after my hour in church, and would probably have needed one if I'd chosen to walk along the beach or in a park. We are all individuals and what helps one of us may not help another, but the importance of connecting with our spiritual side can not be ignored.

– by Cynthia Webber (Jausten) .

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