What on earth is a spiritual trace? I would define a spiritual trace as something that’s left behind after an encounter with another. This might be the result of a conversation, a meeting, or some event, or perhaps even just a rolling of eyes. Something gets left behind. A feeling of emotion, and understanding, perception. This trace, rather like the smoke in a room, spreads around and changes the atmosphere.

As an ex-smoker, I can identify a room that has either been smoked in recently, or in many cases just a smoker who has been using the room. This physical perception also applies to the spiritual trace left behind after an encounter, such as described earlier. This perception may or may not affect everyone who was in the room, receiving the message or an emotion that was being conveyed. And, of course, a spiritual trace, or a leave behind, we might call that which remains.

These remains can be both positive or negative depending on the outcome.  They might prompt a memory that brings us back to that encounter. Perhaps where a first kiss was made, a proposal, a spiritual encounter. These might be positive examples. Others may be less so, such as a termination of some description, the scene of an accident, or the unwilling end of a relationship. We carry these spiritual traces with us and they become, sometimes at least, a part of who we are, or who we are to become. But do they fully define us? We all know failing at something the first time may not be something that we want, but it’s often necessary to become competent in a new discipline or skill.

Of course, when we are in groups, we often find many inputs and outputs of these spiritual traces that may go on during a meeting or discussion. These make up the atmosphere of the situation, and often, our behavior or willingness to listen and dialogue have a considerable impact on the outcome. So, these traces can become a reality in decision-making and forward-looking planning, sometimes even without our input.

The spiritual trace can be either a good or a bad thing depending on what’s been left behind, in the spiritual world we often feel the good stuff in the form of a consolation, or at least a loving feeling that’s something good that’s just happened of if it’s going to happen. The converse is also true, where we may respond negatively as the bear pokes us into responding to something we feel is harmful or makes us feel bad. This oscillation is challenging to deal with, and we learn as we learn slowly in life that dialogue, even with those topics we don’t want to address, is essential to keep ourselves balanced.

Teilhard de Jardin, a well-known Jesuit priest of the last century, describes what he called the noosphere. This noosphere is an ever-increasing presence of God’s grace in the world, impelled by all the goodness and good deeds ever enacted by mankind through of course, the will of God.

This goodness and love are an ethereal matter that cannot be removed, hidden, or destroyed. Something which eventually will overwhelm the world and spread goodness out to all. In the meantime, the negative space is taken up by what some might call evil but is often just pure selfishness in human interaction.

People want more out of life and believe that having more control over others, more possessions, and power is the key to success. Success, of course, has no end or limits until eventually, they realize this is a false goal they have been taught and yet have left their entire spiritual trace trying to achieve it throughout their lives.

Recognizing that all we do leaves a spiritual trace, whether we recognize it or not is perhaps the starting point. The starting point where our willingness to leave something good behind in each interaction it is not just a worthy cause or result, but an active presence in our behavior. Our behavior initially controlled by the gift of freewill.

Ultimately, our freewill does not dissipate, but as time moves us closer to alignment with the good, then the results of a positive spiritual trace is left wherever we go. And we notice when we do the reverse, leaving a strange odor which cannot be described as a perfume.

Contemplative prayer increases this awareness, particularly when we don’t want to notice it. In the end, it becomes more difficult to avoid dealing with the issues that keep us up at night, niggle at our soul, knowing they need either resolution, or reconciliation. Sometimes both.

What sort of spiritual trace have we left in our lives so far? And how do we recognize how much more power we have to influence others; as God provides with the grace to fill the room with the rose-scented flavor of grace?

Image and Reflection Copyright 2024 Michael J. Cunningham OFS