Practical Spirituality for Everyday Life

Down-to-earth conversations about spirituality, relationships, personal growth, meaning, and living a more thoughtful and fulfilling life.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

SPIRITUALITY

Explore practical spirituality for everyday life.

What does it mean to know God?

How do we develop a relationship with God?

How can spirituality help us deal with fear, anger, suffering, relationships, and the challenges of everyday life?

RELATIONSHIPS

Because spirituality isn't just about what we believe. It's about how we live with one another.

Explore relationships with God, ourselves, our families, our friends, and the people we encounter every day.

A DIFFERENT WAY OF TALKING ABOUT SPIRITUALITY

Have you ever wondered why spiritual life is a subject that people seldom seem to talk about, even with their closest friends and family members? It's curious, isn't it? There's an old saying that goes, "Never talk about religion or politics in polite company." I can certainly understand the politics part of that advice. But I've often wondered why conversations about our spiritual lives have become something we're expected to avoid.

But I have a theory.

When it comes to spirituality - especially spirituality connected with religion - many of us take ourselves far more seriously than is healthy or helpful. For many people the need to be right about God can become so important that it overshadows the much more important task of actually coming to know God and growing in relationship with God and with one another.

But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it. In fact, I'm convinced that thinking about our spiritual lives, talking about them openly, and sharing our experiences are essential parts of spiritual growth. We don't grow by pretending we've arrived. We grow by wondering, questioning, listening, and remaining open to the ways God continues to work in our lives.

And I also believe something else.

Our spiritual lives should include a healthy sense of joy, wonder, and even laughter. Not everything about God has to be approached with jaw-clenching seriousness.  

I remember something that happened years ago when I was serving as a parish priest. Every Wednesday morning, I held a small church service. One morning, two boys, probably twelve or thirteen years old and almost certainly skipping school, wandered into the church. I wasn't sure whether they were there because of guilt or because they were hiding from someone.

They slipped into a pew near the back of the church and began looking around. Finally, one of them stared up at the nine-foot statue of the risen Jesus mounted high on the wall behind the altar. In what he probably thought was a whisper - but that everyone could hear - he said,

"Who's that guy?"

His friend answered confidently, "That's Jesus."

"How do you know?"

Without missing a beat, the second boy replied, "Because he never smiles."

I've laughed about that moment many times over the years. And although the boy certainly wasn't making a theological statement, I've often wondered how many people secretly think the same thing - that God is serious all the time, and that anyone who wants to know God should be serious all the time as well.

I don’t mean to say that spiritual life should never be serious. Of course, there are moments when life brings suffering, loss, difficult decisions, and questions that deserve serious reflection. But there's another side to our spiritual journey as well—a side filled with joy, curiosity, gratitude, beauty, humor, and wonder. Those things aren't distractions from the spiritual life. They're part of it.

THAT'S THE KIND OF CONVERSATION I HOPE WE'LL HAVE HERE

Sometimes we'll tackle challenging questions with all the seriousness they deserve. Other times we'll approach life with a lighter touch, discovering that wisdom often comes wrapped in a smile or hidden inside an ordinary story.

Together we'll explore practical truths that help us grow spiritually while keeping both feet firmly planted on the ground. We'll talk about friendship, marriage, family, parenting, character, forgiveness, purpose, and many of the everyday experiences where faith quietly shapes our lives. We'll also look at the obstacles that keep us from experiencing the peace, joy, freedom, and fulfillment that God desires for each of us.

My hope is simple.

That during your time here you'll find something that helps you think a little more deeply, live a little more fully, love a little more generously, and perhaps even laugh along the way.

After all, I have a feeling God smiles much more often than we imagine.

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So, What's Next?

If you've made it this far, thank you for spending a little time with me. And if you're interested in exploring a bit more, I'd love to invite you to look around.

If you're on a computer, you'll find the menu along the left side of the screen. If you're using a phone or tablet, you'll find it at the top or bottom of the page. There you'll discover articles, podcasts, and other resources covering a variety of topics related to spiritual growth and everyday life.

Some are written for adults, others for adolescents, and still others for children. My hope is that, wherever you are on your journey, you'll find something that speaks to you, encourages you, or simply gives you something worthwhile to think about.

I'm truly glad you're here.

If you have a question, a comment, or simply want to share a thought or experience, I'd love to hear from you. Just visit the Contact Me page and send me a note.

Wherever life takes you, I wish you peace, joy, and an ever-deepening awareness of God's presence along the way.

Blessings to you and those you love,

Mike