After reading Hayduke's two-part blogs on religion, I thought I'd tackle the subject of "not being religious, but being spiritual". We hear this phrase frequently. What does it mean to be spiritual?

Quite frankly, I never did comprehend the meanings of either "spirit" or "spiritual". So I went to the dictionary. I discovered there were 18 definitions of the the former and six of the latter, with a plethora of sub-definitions. Wow! No wonder I'm confused. I'll refrain from listing them.

I think the definition that describes the "religious" category is the presence of the non-physical (distinguished from the body) "soul" in man. From the Latin "spiritus"--breath, courage--and "spirare"--to blow, to breathe, we have infused the "breath of God" into our being. So in this sense, the word implies a supernatural source of our spirit, hence spirituality.

As I see it, this is why so many people believe our sense of awe is a god given spirit. The "wow" factor of rainbows, sunsets, a star filled universe, is explained by a force we really can't describe. And because it's a feeling, way beyond science's methodical universal laws and explanations, we have incorporated this undefinable spirituality into our everyday lives.

While I may not understand the concept or believe in a "spirit" (whether inside of me or outside, like a god), I recognize and accept the spirituality of others. I, too, am in awe of all things in our universe. I oooh and aaah with the best of them. I just haven't accepted (disbelief) the cause. I'm happy with "it is what it is", spirit or not, within me.

PS: I've posted some pictures of my Caladesi I. trip. Check 'em out.