A superb article, Tom!  Thank you!  I especially appreciate your observation that all too often our church presents us with a childish spirituality designed for adults who are only comfortable with childish certitude.  Because my faith rests in God, I delight in the uncertainty and ambiguity which are so much a part of world in which God has placed us.      

I find your four criteria for a healthy spiritual life insightful and hope to make use of them.  I, too, was born and raised Catholic and while I attend Mass each Sunday,  I can no longer accept many of the inflexible, smugly absolute, concepts my church asked me to accept when I was a child.  At 81, I try to do my best every day as I continue my search for truth and for what God expects me to do.  How blessed we all are to have the ability to think and what a shame not to use such a gift!