Practuality- a "Wesism"

Practuality

I have met more than a few people in my life who have a real problem with the notion of Spirituality. Some of them struggle with religious concepts and their perceptions of the "gap" they see between the teachings and the doings. Others prefer to separate their definitions of Spirituality and Religion in order to be more at ease with one or the other, or both.

Then there is that group of people who steadfastly refuse to embrace either term, in definition or in practice. What do they do when their lives run aground on the shorelines of Self? Refuting all manner of Spirituality or Religion, where do they go to expand their life's purpose beyond the pursuit of only those goals that serve to reward them personally without regard for others?

Many of them do find meaning outside the definitions of spirituality and religion. They ascribe to a path that offers no Deity or Higher Power. Yet they often find greater, or higher, purpose.  I am going to refer to this as the practice of Practuality. While it is neither religious in nature or steeped in some defined spirituality, it is a way of behaving that reflects many of the behavioral tenets of Spiritual practice, yet eschews any acknowledgement of a divinity or unifying Spiritual force. It' s sort of a "Spirituality for Non- Believers". Because of the many real and tangible benefits of their behavior, there is a profound practicality and reward to their lifestyle. So I call this Practuality. 

Practitioners of real Practuality exhibit many of these traits: Compassion, kindness, tolerance, charity, service to others, empathy, curiosity, pragmatic skepticism, and persistence. All of these things can also be found amongst the practicing spiritualist or religious devotee. There is so much common ground it seems insane that we witness the levels of intolerance that often seem to arise among these groups. Yet this intolerance occurs and often escalates to the level of emotional and even physical hostility. The beauty of the shared intent, which is to help this world become a little safer and healthier place, is obscured by the passion committed to the perceived source of the inspiration of that intent. A misguided and unnecessary need to defend a position often arises from this passion; a passion which could be so much better spent in service to the behavioral ideals that need to be lived to the betterment of all. 

Carl Jung observed that at some point in every human's life there begins a search for true meaning. This meaning is almost always found in the expansion of one's personal focus onto an awareness and relationship with a greater world than one's own personal agenda of acquisition, comfort, and companionship. It is an essential ingredient in what is fundamentally Maturity. To arrive at this point of "growing up" is to confront the process by which this awareness is to be recognized, deepened, and manifested. 

If that process entails a specific doctrine called a Religion, and no harm is done to others in its practice while many are helped, it is a blessing to all. Should a person be called to a connection with a Higher Power, outside the conscription of established religious order, and call that their Spirituality, may that journey be a gift to the traveler and all whom they cross paths with along the way. If our individual wandering through the human sojourn looks into the heavens and sees only the blackness of whirling atoms, yet embraces the very tangible benefits of compassion and service to a community greater than themselves, let us all celebrate the profoundly sensible nature of their Practuality.

Perhaps then the net result of these actions will be to embrace the intent of healing. Healing ourselves, healing our communities, and healing this grand little biological experiment called Earth along with it's inhabitants.  

In the end, nothing could be more Practical.

Wes Hamil 4/26/13 written while flying to Reno, NV