Spirit-led Living: My Journey of Spiritual Strength, Compassion and Purpose
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
By Shade Oyedele
I found faith on my own at a very young age. Although I was born into a loving family, religion was not clearly defined in our home. My mother was a Muslim who did not actively practise her faith, and my father was a Christian who rarely attended church. Despite this lack of structure, my spiritual journey still began: at school.
I attended a Catholic primary school located within the premises of a Catholic church, where each school day began with morning Mass. I often arrived early, eager to participate. Over time, I developed a deep love for the ritual, especially the moment of Holy Communion. As I watched others walk to the altar, I longed for the day I would be able to do the same. That desire eventually became a reality when I was baptised and received my First Holy Communion.
However, receiving communion came with an important responsibility. During preparation classes, I was taught that communion should not be taken while bearing a known sin. This meant regular confession and sincere repentance. As a child, I was faced with a simple but profound choice: to continue being naughty and rely on frequent confessions, or live intentionally and receive communion freely each morning. I chose the latter.
That decision shaped my childhood. I became deeply reflective, constantly evaluating my choices and actions. This habit of continuous self-reflection eventually grew into empathy: the ability to put myself in other people’s situations. I developed a strong sense of right and wrong and embodied fairness. Through the act of compassion, I learnt to understand other people’s struggles, and to do whatever I could to ease their pain. My greatest desire was to live well and let my spirit lead the way.
At first, my motivation was to receive communion without restriction. But subsequently, that singular act quietly guided my daily life and laid the foundation for my spiritual journey. A journey that held me firmly through good times and bad times.
Today, my faith has evolved. I am no longer a Catholic; I am now a Pentecostal Christian. My focus is no longer on receiving Holy Communion daily, but on spiritual growth and maintaining a deep and meaningful connection with God, as I seek purpose and fulfilment in life.
For me, living a meaningful life means understanding why I am here: the reason for my existence. This lies in the answers to life’s important questions: Who am I? What is my purpose on earth? How do I make an impact? How can I find joy and spread happiness while living?
In what ways can I enrich another person’s life? How can I be a blessing to humanity? How do I live well? How do I fulfil my destiny? I am still seeking those answers.
Living a purposeful life means being intentional and focused on achieving my life goals. It means identifying the values that are most important to me and living my daily life in pursuit of them. These values include empathy, compassion, fairness, resilience, growth, and happiness. A fulfilled life, to me, is a life well lived: one that finds meaning and actively fulfils its purpose.
Ultimately, this kind of life requires continuous self-reflection, a virtue I cultivated in my early years; spiritual maturity, intentional daily actions, kind thoughts, words and deeds. A purposeful life is not a destination; it is an ongoing journey.
The power of constant self-reflection is a tool that continues to shape who I am and how I live today.
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