The Ultimate Question

It was this last week that I had the privilege of hearing two world class motivational speakers. The first speaker was Joe Roberts, a story of determination and of overcoming insurmountable odds. The second speaker equally inspiring, Peter Legge, Chairman and CEO of Canada Wide Media Limited, the largest independently owned publishing company in Western Canada.

I don't know of anyone listening that wasn't challenge to live each day to the fullest, to look at adversity as challenges to overcome and providing opportunities to make us stronger.Among the things that Joe and Peter talked about was the value of hard work, the importance of positive influences as well as a close knit family unit and the significance of a strong spiritual basis and belief.

It was the ability of Joe Roberts to draw strength from and remember his spiritual roots that was instrumental in his turn around from being homeless person on the streets of Vancouver to making his first million. Likewise, Peter Legge credits his spiritual roots in the building of an empire that grosses around 30 million annually.

The question that needs to be asked is why do some see religion as a crutch or something that hinders rather than builds up? I could talk about the difference between religion and spirituality or the difference between undeserved grace and working for your salvation, but I don't think that's the real reason people see religion or faith as a crutch. It's simpler than that. The reason many people don't want anything to do with spirituality is simply you and me.

Isn't it true people often refuse to step into church because of "all the hypocrites" going there, or maybe because someone they saw as a spiritual role model disappointed or hurt them? Actions and words have done more to turn people away and off spirituality than anything else.

One of the things I value most of all is friendships, and fortunately I'm privileged to have a few. These include my poker friends who seem to like taking my time and money, my rotary friends who share my passion for helping the less fortunate, my colleagues and close friends at work, my family and extended family and the list goes on. However all these friendships can be destroyed quickly by actions and words, and the hurt caused can be sometimes be unrepairable.

If you're reading this blog and consider yourself a spiritual person then realize that you have a great responsibility. The responsibility of guarding your words and actions, the responsibility to live up to your spiritual values and the responsibility to be true to your beliefs. The ultimate test is how our friends and acquaintances view us. Are we able to be the same person wherever we are and whoever we are with?

That to me is the ultimate question.