Things are in constant flux at MORSL, not only with the students coming in and out of the space and team, but also with the work we do to respond to the ever-changing spiritual and religious needs of people in our community.
On a personal level, spirituality is often in transition like a living organism. Our spirituality can shift, expand, contract, branch out and evolve, sometimes in ways that we don't expect. Faith or spirit can be compared to a living and growing plant or tree. Sometimes we might experience spiritual life in the leaves. We bask in warm light. We store up energy. We're excited about possibilities. Sometimes our spirituality might be comparable to the trunk of a tree, full of flowing energy that sustains us. We're solid and grounded. Other times might be more oriented to the roots of our faith or beliefs. Things feel dark or cold. We struggle to find sources that nurture us spiritually. We question our faith traditions, the things that have grounded our lives and beliefs. During adulthood, it can be normal to spend a lot of time focusing on this under-the-ground root space of our spiritual lives. It might be the most uncomfortable part maintaining a spiritual life, but dark and uncertain spaces usually lead to spiritual growth, greater trust in ourselves as a source of spiritual wisdom in our lives, and deeper spiritual grounding. It's in strengthening their roots that trees are strong enough to endure storms, and it's also in the roots that they communicate with one another, gaining connection and resilience.
