Your spiritual maturity is not affirmed by how much you read the Holy Scriptures, sing hymns, pray, clap hands, dance to contemporary religious music. It’s not determined by how much you visit your place of worship or how much money you donate to its causes.

It’s not affirmed by your title (if you have one) or the ornate design of your robe (if you wear one) or your the position in the hierarchy of your faith (if you have one).

It is affirmed by your willingness to take responsibility for your life, your choices, the good use of your skills, talents. It’s measured by how you treat people, especially loved-ones, strangers; how you love your enemies, offer hospitality, respect, regard, love those who reject your beliefs.

Are you generous to a fault? Do you love those who are different from you, whose lives might be in direct conflict with what you believe? Do you love by listening?

If you take full responsibility for yourself, become extraordinarily generous, embrace diversity, and love others by listening, you will fast-forward your “spiritual” growth. It’s not your title, the reach of your authority, or the crowds who respect and adore you. It’s how you respect and love those who don’t.