GOD WITHIN

Jon M. Sweeney (Ed.) (2001). God Within:

                                                Future as Told by Today's New Adults


How dated the phrase "today's new adults" seems in 2023...22 years after the publication of the book...those "new adults" of 18-20 are now 40-42 years old! and the current "younger generation" is a digital one that Marc Prensky talks about in his book EMPOWERED.

Time aside, there are still lessons to be gleaned from this collection of stories. It seems that most of these "young adult stories" (told by the young adults and not Sweeney) struggle with the term "religion" as beliefs and rituals and yearn for a spiritually that is real, felt, and meaningful...i would guess that's still true of youth today. 

The stories as a whole show youth that are honest in their struggles, often turning to drugs and sex to FEEL something akin to spiritual...there is nature spirituality theme as well, and a longing to be in real community with fellow seekers...almost no one talked about a serious prayer or meditation practice...perhaps this is a place to start for those seeking a "real" spiritual experience.

some quotes that stuck with me: 

simple living, high thinking 

find a place of your own and write your heart 

open the door of your soul and let life in

for me in my 60's i see the need for a personal transmission of spirituality to the next generation in one's being and living, not in a class, workshop, or book, but a living relationship...


for young people searching, begin with prayer and/or meditation...find a quiet private space you can count own, make it your own, go there as much as you can, untether yourself from the world, and look into your heart of hearts, and listen...

for older people, consider your life, what about the way you live conveys spirituality, are there ways to live a more intentional spiritual life as a model for young people...

for those in between the young and older, do what you can in the busyness of life, going to school, earning a living, raising a family...by finding the Spirit in the little things you do every day...look for the little beauties everywhere...





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