If you view being religious as simply the unthinking imitation of the pratices demanded by a certain group of believers, then the answer to the above question is “no.” If, however, you see being “religious” as equal to being spiritual,” then the question that serves as the title for this article should be answered in the affirmative.
In order to demonstate the veracity of that claim, i.e. that being spiritual can help to extend your life, this writer will look at five tools, tools for pursuing a spiritual purpose to life. Those five tools are knowing, relating, growing, serving and sharing.
Now it just so happens that the granddaughter of this writer has recently experienced the use of all five of those tools. While not yet three years old, that little girl can follow adults as they relate to one another. She can respond to adults, when they relate facts to her. In that way, she has managed to increase her knowledge.
On the first day in December, the granddaughter of this writer showed her grandmother her new ski jacket. Her grandmother told her, “Now you will have to get some skis.” The toddler was about to advance frrom knowing and relating to growing.
The toddler said to her grandmother, “Would you like to have a ski jacket?”
The grandmotber answered, “My mother did buy me a ski jacket, so that I could learn to ski, but I never learned how to ski.”
The granddaugther then said, “I can help you.”
That littile girl had just taken part in an important conversation, a conversation in which she could expereince all five tools of spiritual purpose.
Of course, it is not always so easy to use those tools. Sometimes the challenges will face in lfe make it difficult to carry out our spiritual purpose. Still, those challenges give meaning to life. While those challenges might not make a life longer, they can certainly make a life much fuller. They can give life a deeper meaning.
