Cultivating the Spiritual Self

Cultivating the Spiritual Self

By Fr. Stephen Crowther, School Chaplain

Spirituality is a difficult word to define as, by its very nature, it means a great many things to a great many people. The website of the University of Minnesota’s Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing states that “spirituality is a broad concept with room for many perspectives” and reflects the kind of spirituality that is promoted here at Holy Trinity School.

We are a school grounded in Christian practice, yet we have enough trust in our perspective to provide space for the many spiritual outlooks that express the universality of human experience. Because of the teaching I do in Middle School world religions, I am able to draw on spiritual wisdom found in other great world faiths such as Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Sikhism, First Nations Spirituality, Taoism and Confucianism.

Of course, Anglicanism was always intended to be inclusive. One of the reasons why it came into existence was to find a common language between Protestant and Catholic Christians. But today we aim even higher by seeking to find a common language between all people, regardless of whether they practice a faith or not.

From the very beginning our school has started its chapels with a Bible reading that reminds us about people’s experiences with the Creator. When I interpret the meaning of the Bible in HTS chapel, I do so to encourage spirituality and spiritual growth among those who make up our diverse population. I seek a common language that resonates with as many as possible. To do so, I ponder why the Bible passage has stood the test of time and what good news it has to say about the human condition. Common themes emerge from carefully considered scripture: sacrificial love, forgiveness, faith, patience, discipline, commitment, renewal, honesty, community, joy, and peace.

It is sacrificial love that, for me, comes to mind as an enduring theme during my years at HTS. Although it is costly, anyone can practice it. Anyone can absorb suffering and transform it into healing. As the school’s closing prayer says: “may we be willing to help another at some cost to ourself”. Life is not primarily about being first and best, life is about remembering that we are all in this together and no one should be left behind. It is this understanding of there being something greater than ourselves that truly captures the essence of spirituality.

Perhaps, then, to understand what spirituality means to our school one should read our new ‘Founders Wall’ where it states: “HTS was created by those who believed in establishing a place of learning where Christian values, character development and honouring the personal integrity of every child would be held at the fore.” It is this focus on principles, progression and compassion for community that ground our journey in cultivating our spiritual selves at HTS.

Common themes emerge from carefully considered scripture: forgiveness, faith, patience, renewal, honesty, community, joy, and peace.