Thomas Merton expressed what I’ve tried to say for years. “For Christianity is not merely a doctrine or a system of beliefs. It is Christ living in us and uniting men to one another in His own Life and unity.” (New Seeds of Contemplation)
One can tell, often at first meeting, whether the other person is filled with the spirit or filled with other stuff. Except for the gullible among us (which at times can be all of us), we have a built-in BS detector. There exists occasional charlatans who manage to defeat that detector in some or many of us.
I’m more concerned with me. And you. Not that we can detect when people are false and manipulating us. No, it’s more that we develop the practices that bring the spirit of God within us. And we can express that spirit through the kind of service that brings people together.
The easy path leads to spouting off words designed to set us apart. Designed to provoke emotions in the other.
The harder path is to express the spirit living within that brings healing and unity and joy to others.
Faith Venture 
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