Deepest experiences of our souls

I've been thinking on this quote from Frank Laubach this morning:

"We really never do anybody much good unless we share the deepest experiences of our souls.”

—Frank Laubach

What exactly are the 'deepest experiences of our souls'? I don't really know, but I'm guessing it has to somehow involve our feelings, and fears, and truth as best as we understand it. I'd also think it can't come about without considerable contemplation and self-awareness. And is there any way to share it outside of relationships where there is at least some level of trust or sense of safety?

It struck me this morning that this seems what our church group is trying to do. When I was asked to speak at a gathering, I was told to just share my heart. However, it didn't come 'out of the blue.' It was the result of a number of conversations and interactions and the pastor one days says, "Man, would you consider sharing with the group? I think it would be really valuable for a lot of people."

I've been reading the classic book 'Black Elk Speaks.' Black Elk was a Native American holy man who survived both the Battle of the Little Bighorn and the Wounded Knee Massacre. A number of people tried to get "his story," but he finally agreed to share it with John Neihardt - maybe largely because he simply listened (and supplied a lot of cigarettes). When the two met no one expected Black Elk to agree, but without a word from Neihardt... just by sitting around, apparently his presence, or something Black Elk sensed, created the connection.

I don't know. I've felt a bit odd ever since sharing in church. It's been odd partly because the messages preceding and following mine have seemed to me to be about almost the exact same thing I was trying to say (including the one yesterday). Yet none of us knew what the other was going to talk about. Perhaps... there's something at work... in our souls? And maybe it's not just the people speaking, but the group as a whole...

Anyway, I'm wondering about this. It feels good.