Churches are built by men. Religions are created by great spiritual leaders. You are defined by Spirit. Finding the right church is like finding yourself. It is going home. It is a place where you can grow.

The spiritual journey is as important in life as choosing a mate—perhaps more so. It is an evolution of the spirit. It is an eternal urging in almost every living thing, but as a human, its is much more transformative. You see this more clearly when you take some time to sit with someone who is dying. We are all born of the same light. It is real and it is exciting. The challenge we all share is to embrace it while we are still in the flesh.

Religion means different things to different people. For many, it is the comfort of hearing the words of a familiar or inspirational spiritual leader. For some, it is the beauty and mystery of ceremony. Some see religion as a social operation, useful in times of trouble or in raising children. Others see it as an harmonious gathering of many minds joining together in union. Isn't unity the true reason of religion? It is the force of the gathering together that brings those kind of challenges we need to be able to rid ourselves of what isn’t really necessary. Some find it necessary to know what they are seeking before they start, others just move as guided by spirit.

When seeking a spiritual path to guide your steps toward the spiritual, Pay attention to your inner feelings as you listen. It takes time if you are a serious student of faith. One size does not fit all, for we are not all at the same level of understanding.

The object of going to church should be to open yourself spiritually, not to learn a list of shoulds and should nots. It is about developing a higher level of instincts deep within yourself.

Therefore, a spiritual teacher is someone who gives you a feeling of being centered, wholesome, and inspired to go farther and deeper than you felt you could before. Look into the faces of your teachers. What do they show you about themselves? Know how you feel, not how you think you should feel, when choosing a spiritual journey, no matter what the name of that religion is.

St. Paul and Buddha did not set out to make a name for themselves. They were human beings following their deepest instincts.

Buddha taught, “Follow the middle path.”

St. Paul said, “We know not what we shall be but be do know that when we see him we shall be like him.”

Our journeys are so very, very individual and personal that it is absurd for anyone to try to force you to travel the same way they do. Life has meaning. Your consciousness is what gives it that meaning. Your consciousness is a sacred gift, a part of God. We are all a part of that one great being. 

As you learn the commandments, precepts or laws of any religion, try to see what they have in common, and what their differences are.

How do you choose a religion? Know yourself. Make every hardship a lesson to expand your understanding. Know that everyone you meet is a reflection of your being. They are merely you on a slightly different path. God speaks with a small, still voice. Rid yourself of fear, anger and desire, for they are the static that interferes with your reception of the message. Only then will you hear. Only then will you see.

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