A spiritual autobiography is your unfolding story and how the God of your understanding is present in it. There are so many ways to create a spiritual autobiography. Some of your will create a chronological list. Some of you will get out art supplies and let flow take over. Some of you will use a mind map model for a soul map. There is no wrong way to do this.
One of things I cherish in our Unitarian Universalist faith tradition is our commitment to constantly examining our unfolding stories. Some of you may have lead youth through a curriculum called A Place of Wholeness, which features an exercise in spiritual autobiography. UU Meeting House in Pittsfield offers This Is My Path. It is highly likely that you've lead such classes or workshops. But when was the last time you surrendered to the process, the questions? Let's take some time and do that this week.
Here is a long list of questions. Do not feel you have to address all of them. Go for the ones that are juicy and generative. Come back to the ones that you struggle with. Feel free to disregard ones that feel barren. Once you feel like you've take it as far as you can for now, hold it all at arms' length to notice the patterns and reoccurring threads. What do you see?
What has been your religious upbringing (during childhood, young adulthood, etc...)? What have been your experiences of a religious community, retreats, religious education, justice work, etc.? You might want to focus on several significant spiritual or religious experiences.
Who has influenced your faith and how? Who would you elevate to call "spiritual teacher"?
How do you imagine Ultimate Source/The Divine? How has that changed throughout your life?
What are your favorite scriptures passages, poems, hymns and/or prayers?
What places have shaped your spiritual journey?
When/where/with whom have I ever encountered God (during worship, prayer, conversation, on retreat, reading, etc.)? When have you felt especially close to the divine?
Have I had seasons of doubt? What did that feel like? When did it end?
What religious or spiritual wounds or hurts have you had?
What are "mistakes" or choices that are not loving or life-giving (to you) that you seem to make over and over again? What do you think you are/were chasing?
When have you received mercy, forgiveness, help, healing?
What beliefs/ understandings do you have that you have had for most of your life?
What beliefs do you have that are more recent/ not a part of your tradition of origin?
What beliefs did you once have but don’t have anymore?
How has your faith changed over the years?
With what issues or in what areas have you struggled?
How did you learn how to be a Unitarian Universalist?
What spiritual practices have shaped your spiritual life?
What areas of your life do you sense your Ultimate Source leading you to work on this year?
Do you notice any reoccurring threads or patterns in your life? If you were to choose a metaphor or image that describes your spiritual journey up to now, what will it be? (e.g. a road, hike, hanging bridge, river, plane trip, etc.)
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