Some of the most meaningful experiences arrive quietly through unexpected invitations. Mine came through my dentist of fifteen years, who invited me to attend a free Bible study group on Zoom. At first, I hesitated. As a Jewish woman raised in an Orthodox environment, I carried years of complicated feelings surrounding Christianity, spirituality, and especially Jesus. Growing up, even expressing curiosity about Jesus often came with shame or silence, as though admiration itself was a betrayal. Yet, something in me had always felt drawn toward learning instead of fear. So one evening, I clicked the Zoom link, listened to strangers discussing scripture with kindness and openness, and felt a surprising sense of peace settle into the room around me.
As the class unfolded week after week, I found myself reflecting on the truth that Jesus himself was Jewish—perhaps one of the greatest Jews who ever lived. That thought changed something in me. It softened the rigid walls I had inherited growing up. My Orthodox upbringing often felt restrictive, filled with rules and quiet judgment rather than emotional connection. Later in life, marrying a Catholic man opened another spiritual doorway for me. I fell in love with churches: the candles, stained glass, sacred music, and the feeling that prayer could exist through beauty, compassion, and community. While I still honor my Jewish roots deeply, I no longer believe spirituality belongs to only one tradition. Wisdom is too vast, and the human heart too curious, to live inside one narrow room forever.
What moves me most now is the realization that spirituality is ultimately about connectedness and love. Whether sitting in a synagogue, a church pew, or a virtual Bible study on Zoom, I am searching for the same thing many people are searching for: meaning, kindness, understanding, and hope. Ancient texts across religions carry echoes of humanity’s deepest questions. The Torah, the teachings of Jesus, Buddhist philosophy, mystical writings, and poetry from every culture all attempt to answer what it means to live well and love fully. I no longer feel the need to choose one wisdom tradition while rejecting another. Learning from many perspectives does not weaken faith; for me, it deepens compassion.
Life feels shorter to me now than it once did. Time moves quickly, and with age comes an urgency not rooted in fear, but fullness. I want to learn as much as I can while I am here. I want to listen to stories, read ancient wisdom, sit in sacred spaces, ask difficult questions, and share meaningful conversations with people whose experiences differ from my own. There is something profoundly human about seeking connection across traditions rather than division between them. Maybe that is the true purpose of spirituality: not building walls around truth, but opening doors toward love, understanding, and a fuller experience of being alive.
Thank you for the years of reading my thoughts and research,
KJ Landis
@superiorself on Instagram and X
@SuperiorSelf channel on YouTube
@superiorselfwithkjlandis on TikTok
[email protected]
Books available everywhere!
As the class unfolded week after week, I found myself reflecting on the truth that Jesus himself was Jewish—perhaps one of the greatest Jews who ever lived. That thought changed something in me. It softened the rigid walls I had inherited growing up. My Orthodox upbringing often felt restrictive, filled with rules and quiet judgment rather than emotional connection. Later in life, marrying a Catholic man opened another spiritual doorway for me. I fell in love with churches: the candles, stained glass, sacred music, and the feeling that prayer could exist through beauty, compassion, and community. While I still honor my Jewish roots deeply, I no longer believe spirituality belongs to only one tradition. Wisdom is too vast, and the human heart too curious, to live inside one narrow room forever.
What moves me most now is the realization that spirituality is ultimately about connectedness and love. Whether sitting in a synagogue, a church pew, or a virtual Bible study on Zoom, I am searching for the same thing many people are searching for: meaning, kindness, understanding, and hope. Ancient texts across religions carry echoes of humanity’s deepest questions. The Torah, the teachings of Jesus, Buddhist philosophy, mystical writings, and poetry from every culture all attempt to answer what it means to live well and love fully. I no longer feel the need to choose one wisdom tradition while rejecting another. Learning from many perspectives does not weaken faith; for me, it deepens compassion.
Life feels shorter to me now than it once did. Time moves quickly, and with age comes an urgency not rooted in fear, but fullness. I want to learn as much as I can while I am here. I want to listen to stories, read ancient wisdom, sit in sacred spaces, ask difficult questions, and share meaningful conversations with people whose experiences differ from my own. There is something profoundly human about seeking connection across traditions rather than division between them. Maybe that is the true purpose of spirituality: not building walls around truth, but opening doors toward love, understanding, and a fuller experience of being alive.
Thank you for the years of reading my thoughts and research,
KJ Landis
@superiorself on Instagram and X
@SuperiorSelf channel on YouTube
@superiorselfwithkjlandis on TikTok
[email protected]
Books available everywhere!
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