By Rev Ashley Oliver
One of the greatest gifts of Christian Spiritualism is that it offers hope beyond this life while also giving purpose to the life we are living now. We believe the soul is eternal, that love never dies, and that every experience we encounter has meaning. During this week’s Divine Service, Ashley reflected on the timeless teachings of Silver Birch, whose wisdom has guided generations of Spiritualists. Although these teachings were first recorded nearly a century ago, they remain just as relevant in today’s world as they were then.
Why Are We Here?
One of the deepest questions any of us can ask is, “Why are we here?” Not simply why we were born into a particular family or why life has unfolded in the way it has, but why the soul chooses to enter physical life at all.
Christian Spiritualism offers a reassuring perspective. Earth is not our permanent home. Rather, it is a school for the soul. Silver Birch expressed this beautifully by reminding us that life does not end with what we call death. The soul continues its journey, and every experience we have on Earth contributes to its growth. Nothing is wasted. Every joy, every disappointment, every triumph and every challenge has its place in the great unfolding of spiritual life.
When we begin to see life through this lens, our perspective changes. Instead of dividing our experiences into good and bad, success and failure, we start to recognise that everything has the potential to teach us something valuable.
Every Experience Shapes the Soul
Think of a child beginning school. We do not expect them to arrive already knowing everything. We expect them to learn, to make mistakes, to develop confidence and to mature over time. Perhaps our spiritual journey works in much the same way.
The joyful moments teach us gratitude. Difficult seasons teach patience. Loss helps us understand compassion, while disappointment often develops resilience. Even our greatest struggles can deepen our understanding of ourselves and of others. Nothing is wasted because every experience becomes part of the soul’s education.
This understanding also encourages us to be kinder to ourselves. We no longer have to see mistakes as failures. Instead, we can recognise them as opportunities to learn and grow.
What Really Matters?
Our culture often measures success through careers, possessions and achievements. Yet when we remember those who have left the greatest impact on our lives, those things are rarely what come to mind.
Recently, while supporting several families through funeral services, I was reminded that people are not remembered for their job titles, salaries or material possessions. They are remembered for their kindness, their generosity, their humour, their compassion and the countless small ways they touched the lives of others. Those are the things that endure.
Perhaps, then, the most important question is not, “What have I achieved?” but rather, “Who am I becoming?”
The Fruits of the Spirit
Jesus taught that “By their fruits you shall know them.” These words remind us that spiritual development is revealed through the qualities we cultivate within ourselves rather than through the beliefs we profess.
Kindness, patience, integrity, forgiveness and compassion are not simply admirable virtues. They become part of the very substance of the soul. Every circumstance presents us with a choice. We can react from fear, defensiveness or resentment, or we can choose love, understanding and grace. Each decision quietly shapes the person we are becoming.
Choosing Expansion Instead of Contraction
During the service, Ashley invited everyone to reflect on a recent moment in their own lives. Perhaps it was a difficult conversation, a disagreement or a situation that stirred strong emotions. Rather than judging ourselves for how we responded, I encouraged everyone simply to observe the moment and ask a different question.
Did that choice move me towards love, or away from it?
Every challenge offers us two possible directions. One path leads towards expansion, where we grow through compassion, patience, understanding and trust. The other leads towards contraction, where fear, irritation, defensiveness and withdrawal begin to take hold.
When we become aware of these moments without judging ourselves, we create space to make different choices in the future. This gentle practice of awareness is one of the most powerful ways our souls continue to grow.
Suffering Is Not Punishment
One of the reasons so many people continue to find comfort in the teachings of Silver Birch is that suffering is never presented as punishment. Instead, life’s difficulties are understood as opportunities for spiritual development.
There are qualities that simply cannot be learned while life is easy. Courage only appears when fear is present. Forgiveness only becomes possible after we have been hurt. Compassion often grows from our own experiences of pain. Just as a diamond is formed under immense pressure, the soul often develops its greatest strength during life’s most difficult seasons.
Becoming the Person You Are Meant to Be
People often ask, “What is my purpose?” or “What is God calling me to do?” While those are natural questions, perhaps there is an even more important one to ask first.
Who is God calling me to become?
As we move ourselves towards greater love, openness, kindness and compassion, the next step on our journey often becomes much clearer. Spiritual growth is not about waiting for dramatic signs or extraordinary revelations. It is about making small, loving choices each day that gradually transform the person we are becoming.
A Thought for the Week Ahead
As you move through the coming week, take a few quiet moments each day to reflect. Ask yourself what is shaping your soul today. Consider whether your choices are leading you towards greater love, greater compassion and greater understanding. Think about the spiritual fruits you are nurturing and which ones may need a little more care and attention.
If this life truly is a school for the soul, then every conversation, every challenge and every opportunity becomes part of our education. Nothing is wasted. Every experience can bring us closer to becoming the people God created us to be.
As Jesus reminded us:
“By their fruits you shall know them.” – Matthew 7:16
May we each continue to cultivate lives filled with love, compassion, wisdom and hope, remembering always that the soul never stands still.
This article was drafted using ChatGPT AI from a transcript the Rev Ashley Oliver’s spiritual address at our divine service on 28th June 2026.
