The Lake Norman Rabbi

When the New Year comes, many people think about starting an exercise program, joining a book club or making some other self-improvement change. What do our clery suggest people resolve to do in the New Year?

There is some sort of disconnect between the question and the part of my response that Cornelius Today printed. Nevertheless, below are some thoughts on Living a Spiritual Life:

I would suggest people attempt to address some of the big spiritual questions in life.  A spiritual life is about looking at oneself and being willing to explore in some way the three fundamental questions we often obscure with all the ’stuff’ in our lives.

1) Why was I born? – Is there a plan for me? Who came up with it? Is it predetermined or do I have control?

2) Why must I die? – How is it decided who shall live and who shall die? How do I grapple with my own mortality on a daily basis?

3) Why am I here? — What is my purpose in the world?

No one religious tradition has an exclusive claim on the many truths in the world. I would challenge every person to wrestle with that which she cannot understand or explain. In order to deepen our spiritual life in the year to come, we must be willing to question all that we think we know, make room for new possibilities and engage in serious intellectual study.