Every evening during our epic “night swimming” at Ninja House, the mini-ninjas and I have a topic we discuss.  Usually presented by the six year old and in her always effervescent brilliance, she picks something that makes this Mommy Ninja go *G-U-L-P* (okay not really but she sure takes my breath away sometimes).  Tonight’s literal linguistic labor of love was … spirituality. Pronounced by Ella Bella as “Spirit-Duality”.  Now THIS … was a faux pas worth exploring.

We began the discussion innocently enough … talking about the moon and the stars in the sky, the earth rotating around the sun, and my daughter’s fascination with life on other planets.  To which I always respond … “Well to think that there are an infinite number of galaxies and this is the ONLY one with life … well that may be a bit simple minded don’t you think B (short for Bella)?”  Eyes wide as saucers, she nods sagely and then asks how we’re all connected and then the word g-0-d is presented.  (man I love my kids)

Out of the mouth’s of babes comes great wisdom.  “I think this spiri-duality is a pretty cool thing mommy.”, she says quietly.  “I’ve heard you use that word before when you’re talking and especially writing about that non-alky-hol thing you do. It’s a cool word.”  Of course I’m floored.  Think that kids don’t pay attention? Think again.

I ask her what she thinks it means. “Well mom, dual means two right? And spirit is who you are on the inside … way down deep.  So I’m thinking that whenever two people, like you and god or you and me;  care about each other all the way … down deep … that it’s spirit-duality.”  Holy moses,  allah, buddha, and confucious; the kid is smarter than all the religious folks I’ve ever met. Truly spirituality as simple kindness and love … all the way “down deep”; is probably the best definition I’ve ever heard.  Of course I’m biased. *ahem*

How this relates to recovery?  Well that’s an awful silly question I’d say. But in the spirit of … well you know; we’ll go there.  Umm. Yeah spirit-duality is peppered all throughout the recovery cosmos. “Give it away to keep it.”  “Wherever two people come together is a meeting.” “Work with another suffering alcoholic/addict”.  Meaning, to simplify this huge concept even more, that spirituality is also an action.  Believing in a power greater than yourself is one part of the basic equation, putting it into action is the other.  This all equals out to basic humanity. Or rather what humanity is striving to be.

So my newest conception of a power greater than myself … is a chain.  Of hundreds of thousands of souls, strung together 1+1 equaling love and simple basic human kindness in practice.  Belief AND action, coming together in it’s crystalline simplicity by the words of a six year old genius.  Talk about duality … of spirit. Doubly blessed.  And to think children are ignored sometimes. *eye roll* Pay attention to the spirit-duality all around folks, even from the most unlikely of sources.  You just may be amazed.