Reflection Part 2
October 14, 2025
Reflection Part 2
Spiritual reflection is a type of learning. It illuminates truths we once knew but forgot, or truths we are only beginning to realize. Spiritual reflection has a vital intention— to increase our soul’s beautiful qualities and purpose. It does this by raising awareness of the world, who we are, and who others are. Being conscious of these activates our purpose and informs our state of being. Spiritual reflection is quite different from replaying and entertaining memories. It is a spiritual exercise that teaches us various aspects of life that we may not realize or know about. Only by spiritually reflecting upon a person, conversation, or circumstance, is the teaching revealed.
Sometimes our dreams bring up issues that give us cause for reflection. We can think about these things and set them aside. Whether dreams trigger the memory or a memory comes up in another way, we can spiritually reflect on it. Spiritual reflection is intentionally reaching back to re-experience the past in light of truths we did not know then but have realized since. The closer we get to the truth, the more we can grow and the more able we are to forgive ourselves and others and to find closure for things that have grieved us. Therefore, spiritual reflection not only teaches us but heals us. I liken it to the laundry just out of the dryer in a pile on the bed. Only by sorting through the pile piece by piece, can we fold the clothes and put them in the proper drawers.
Take my reflections on my parents for example. When growing up with them, they were my authority. Even as a young adult, they carried that weight. But as I grew in understanding of reality, and reflected on my own truth, I saw my folks as vulnerable humans who, like me, had to find themselves even when they were parents. Also like me, they did not always get it right. When I reflected on Mom and Dad through the lens of being authorities throughout my life, I had complex feelings about them— much love, but anger, judgments, and even resentments.
But now I look at their photograph on my desk, pick it up, and hold it close to my heart. I reflect on feeling their struggles, hardships, complex lives, hurts, difficult childhoods, and more. Most of all, I understand that whatever mistakes they made, they tried their very best and gave me tremendous blessings.
And most of all, I see them as soul children, who put on an ego just as I did. So now I see them with overflowing compassion instead of the complexities that for me, clouded the truth of who they really were— the truth that they were broken like us all.
I came to this awareness in many ways, but one of the most profound was through spiritual reflection. This means going back and “replaying” wonderful and terrible times. They are short memories relived or extended replays of past interactions, conversations, decisions, and more. But all are opportunities to re-experience and re-examine the hurt and the joy in a different light.
Memories, dreams, and reflections are always bubbling up in all of us. Though we all have different hurts, regrets, wounds, celebrations, and joys, our reflections zero in on what needs to be healed. They are gifts for our healing, regardless of our life experiences.
Spiritual practice: Take one circumstance that troubles you from the past and reflect on it in the light of truth. What do you notice about how you see the situation after your reflection?
Self-inquiry: Why would you hold the same stance on a situation even if it pulls you down?
Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the gift of spiritual reflection, which brings me closer to my soul and you. Amen
