A Message from Barbara Schreiner-Trudel, Spiritual Director of the CSL, Toronto

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A MESSAGE FROM
Barbara Schreiner-Trudel, Spiritual Director
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BARBARA SCHREINER-TRUDEL

There is an emptiness, a dissatisfaction, a feeling of discontent that many people are experiencing today. Perhaps you have felt it yourself. We are busier and lead more complex lives than any other generation. And, we're doing a pretty good job of it. We've learned how to create some measure of balance between home, work, and family, and even have been able to carve out a slice of time from our hectic schedules to work in exercise and enjoy some time with friends.

Yet, after all we're accomplishing at home and work, a great number of us are left with a haunting feeling that something is still missing. This “something”, we are beginning to discover, is our spirituality. The very large number of books dealing with spirituality that have been appearing in our bookstores the past few years is solid evidence of the spiritual awakening that is happening all around us. We've seen books like 'The Power of Now', 'You Can Heal Your Life', 'Spiritual Liberation', 'The Secret' and many more hit the best seller lists. This spiritual awakening is also causing many people to return to church with the desire to deepen their spiritual understanding. But few are finding what they are looking for in the churches they grew up in.

During my childhood I rarely attended church and when I did I felt confused by the message I was given both in and out of the services. They seemed to be saying that “our way was the only way to God” and as a child I sensed this was wrong. I questioned anyone who would listen about the absurdity of this doctrine. I found it hard to imagine a God who would sentence the majority of Its people to eternal damnation. My questioning made some people uncomfortable and it kept me away from church.

When I was 27 I had a spiritual awakening in a fundamentalist church and started my Path again, but soon I was questioning and eventually left with a pained heart. This single mindedness that suggested “our way is the only way to God” left me cold, once again. I was definitely looking for God - and looking for spiritual support, guidance, and strength too - but had come to believe I was not going to find it in any church . until I was introduced to the Centre for Spiritual Living by a friend.

In all the world's religions are the seeds of truths. Different religions are like spokes on a wheel with the hub being God. They may be set apart by a variety of beliefs, styles and approaches, but they are all seeking God at the hub of all life. Just as the spokes on the wheel come closer to each other as they near the hub, so, too as each Path comes closer to God it comes closer to all other Paths.

When I was introduced to Science of Mind, I found a Spiritual Path that made sense to my heart, soul and mind. I found a Path that teaches there is One God, but many ways to find that One God. I found a Path that did not insult my intelligence, that valued me, that affirmed my intrinsic worth, while helping me to overcome my shortcomings and stretch towards my goals. The Centre for Spiritual Living did not use fear, guilt or manipulation to place me in a box of outdated beliefs.

The essence of spirituality is the consciousness of God - whatever your concept of God may be. As I have grown in my understanding of God and in the application of spiritual principles, my life has truly been transformed. There is not that emptiness or that haunting feeling that something is missing. There is deep meaning and purpose in my life and a tremendous sense of joy and contentment. I am experiencing more of what I want in my life, and less of what I don't want.

As you explore and deepen your own spirituality, I believe you will also experience the same. There is One God, called by many different names and found through many different Paths. I invite you to join us on this Path called the Centre for Spiritual Living.

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