My spirit is all that I am.

We live in a society today which encourages us to buy into the myth that our external trappings, including our bodies, is who we are. Many people have come to believe in this, and multi-billion dollar industries are in existence because of it. However, there is one universal truth; we are only our spirits, nothing more.

The phenomenon of people believing that somehow their external trappings are part of who they are is especially prevalent in western society, and especially in America. We have been so bombarded with messages telling us that we will somehow be better, more complete people when we only get that house, or that status symbol car, or when we belong to the right country club. Beyond that, we are deluged with information which tells us that somehow we are what our bodies look like. Think of how much time, energy and money people spend on trying to look different from how they were created. This could include something as simple as changing hair color, trying to prevent hair loss, face lifts, eye jobs, nose jobs and all manner of plastic surgery.

The danger in heading down this road is that, somewhere along the line, you can begin to internalize a false belief that these things are who you are. When this happens, you grow away from a spiritual connection, and the world of the ego takes over. In this way, we not only believe that we are how we look, what we drive, or what our possessions are, but we begin to care about what others think of us. Enter “keeping up with the Jones”. This is particularly dangerous ground, because we start trying to impress others with who we are. The things we are trying to impress others with, however, aren’t even who we are at all.

Who we are is one thing; our spirit. The only thing that truly defines who we are is that which lives inside our body. It is not our body itself, and it is certainly not our clothes, what we do for a living, our money, house, or car. Think of it this way; the only thing that defines who we are is that which we will take with us from this life. Will you take your house with you when you leave here? Your car? Your business? Other people’s opinions of you? No. All you will take with you when you depart this life is what you brought into it. That is your spirit. It is the only thing in the universe which defines who you are.

When you really begin to internalize this knowledge, a spiritual connection is not only possible, it is assured. Moreover, the more one understands this truth and applies it to all areas of life, the stronger and more functional that spiritual connection becomes. And to be connected to that which created us is who we all are.

I’m not saying that there’s anything inherently wrong with having a nice car, or whatever. It’s just that the pendulum has swung way too far on this one. Instead of working so hard on all the trappings of life, thinking that’s who we are, we would be much better served with meaning in our lives if we focused on the reality that our spirit is all that we are. If people worked as hard at developing their spirit as they do at developing external trappings of their life, the world would be better served. Thus, there is no more profound expression of the human spirit than to serve the world, and make it a better place.

Today I am grateful for my spirit, for it is all that I am.