For those of you who were away this past Sunday, amid the new members, baptisms, and elder installations, we recognized our four graduating high school seniors: Isabel, Cassie, Courtney and Suzanne. These four young women were eighth graders when they took part in the very first confirmation class I taught here at Covenant. I remember getting to know these four lovely girls, marveling at their thoughts and questions, and looking forward to how they would grow during their high school years.
High school is coming to a close for them now. Each of these young women have been a joy to watch grow and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for them. Seeing them reach this milestone has also made me stop and think. Once we get passed our school years, there aren’t as many built in opportunities to stop and notice how far we have come or how surprising our journey may have been or anything like that. We also lack the built in time to look forward and wonder where God will keep leading us.
I try to practice a daily examine—a spiritual practice in which you look back at the day, notice where God was, where you may have succeeded or missed being a light to someone else. I think adding a more long-term examine, perhaps yearly, perhaps every several years, would be a helpful practice. I invite you to try this practice with me, to stop and reflect on your life over a longer period of time and God’s hand in it. Being intentional about noticing the greater movement of God in our lives, that has to be a good thing. In fact, as soon as I finish writing this, I think I’ll do just that. Maybe as soon as you finish reading this, you can too.
Showing posts with label spiritual practice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spiritual practice. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
More Spiritual Practices
This last gathering of the young adult small group, we talked about spiritual practices that involve your body. If you'd like to play along at home, here are some suggestions for ways to engage the Divine.
Exercise – not only is it good for your health, it’s good for your soul. When you engage in your favorite exercise, try incorporating a piece of scripture or concentrate on a sacred image. With exercise that requires a lot of concentration (i.e. punching) try to stay focused on your holy thought. With exercise where you can let your mind wander (i.e. yoga, walking) start with a sacred thought and just let that mind go. Try and pay attention to how your body feels, what it may be saying to you (not just “Ouch – no more” but maybe something a little deeper).
Fasting – There are lots of ways to fast. You can fast from food for a whole day (sunrise to sunset); you can choose to eat only certain foods for a set period of time; you can opt out of one type of food in particular (like chocolate – ahahah!!!).
You may also consider fasting from something else connected to the body – a negative body image. Have something you don’t like about your body, stop picking on yourself. Instead, try looking at whatever you don’t like through God’s eyes – you’re beautiful!
Moderation – you don’t always need to go to the extremes; pick something that maybe you don’t allow yourself anything of (carbs, salt, etc) and have a little. Pick something you overindulge in and take a step back.
Indulgence – We often think of spiritual practices of the body equaling denial and/or abuse of the body. God gave us this great creation and doesn’t want us to ignore it – the occasional indulgence is a good thing! Try getting a pedicure, a massage, take a bath – whatever you indulge in do so in thanksgiving to God for this body that can enjoy such indulgences.
Prayer Postures – You can pray any time and any place, standing up or sitting down. Sometimes, however, changing your physical stance can help to make the time sacredly set apart. Try praying while kneeling, laying down; however you normally pray, do something different with your body. Be intentional about it.
Dancing – And here’s where we may step outside our comfort zone. Put on some music, close the blinds if you need to, and just let your body move. You’re following in the great tradition of folks like Miriam and David. Move that body – let the Spirit move ya – and just enjoy the sensations. Open yourself up to what you feel as you move.
Exercise – not only is it good for your health, it’s good for your soul. When you engage in your favorite exercise, try incorporating a piece of scripture or concentrate on a sacred image. With exercise that requires a lot of concentration (i.e. punching) try to stay focused on your holy thought. With exercise where you can let your mind wander (i.e. yoga, walking) start with a sacred thought and just let that mind go. Try and pay attention to how your body feels, what it may be saying to you (not just “Ouch – no more” but maybe something a little deeper).
Fasting – There are lots of ways to fast. You can fast from food for a whole day (sunrise to sunset); you can choose to eat only certain foods for a set period of time; you can opt out of one type of food in particular (like chocolate – ahahah!!!).
You may also consider fasting from something else connected to the body – a negative body image. Have something you don’t like about your body, stop picking on yourself. Instead, try looking at whatever you don’t like through God’s eyes – you’re beautiful!
Moderation – you don’t always need to go to the extremes; pick something that maybe you don’t allow yourself anything of (carbs, salt, etc) and have a little. Pick something you overindulge in and take a step back.
Indulgence – We often think of spiritual practices of the body equaling denial and/or abuse of the body. God gave us this great creation and doesn’t want us to ignore it – the occasional indulgence is a good thing! Try getting a pedicure, a massage, take a bath – whatever you indulge in do so in thanksgiving to God for this body that can enjoy such indulgences.
Prayer Postures – You can pray any time and any place, standing up or sitting down. Sometimes, however, changing your physical stance can help to make the time sacredly set apart. Try praying while kneeling, laying down; however you normally pray, do something different with your body. Be intentional about it.
Dancing – And here’s where we may step outside our comfort zone. Put on some music, close the blinds if you need to, and just let your body move. You’re following in the great tradition of folks like Miriam and David. Move that body – let the Spirit move ya – and just enjoy the sensations. Open yourself up to what you feel as you move.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Some Spiritual Practice Ideas
The Young Adult Lenten Small Group met for the first time last night. We had great discussion and reflection. At the end of the evening, I passed out a sheet with suggestions for spiritual practices to try during the week - all centered around scripture. I thought I'd share those practices here.
Daily Reading: Sounds simple enough. Every day read a bit of the Bible. You can start at the very beginning (Genesis) and read until you get tired then pick up where you left off the next day; you can read a Psalm a day; read a chapter of a Gospel a day; read an epistle a day – however you want to organize your reading, just read!
Lectio Divina: check out this website for information on this practice
Acting Out: Pick a scripture (probably an action story – there are some good bloody ones in the OT) and act it out. Include costumes, props, sound effects – whatever you think will enhance your fun/focus
Illustrating: Pick a verse of scripture and write it out on a piece of paper. Just start doodling around the scripture, add flourish to the letters, feel what the scripture may be inspiring you to draw.
Getting in the Scene: Find a story in the Bible you enjoy (perhaps one that is very familiar to you) and imagine you’re a character in that story (mentioned in the Bible or not). Reflect on the story from your character’s perspective.
Daily Reading: Sounds simple enough. Every day read a bit of the Bible. You can start at the very beginning (Genesis) and read until you get tired then pick up where you left off the next day; you can read a Psalm a day; read a chapter of a Gospel a day; read an epistle a day – however you want to organize your reading, just read!
Lectio Divina: check out this website for information on this practice
Acting Out: Pick a scripture (probably an action story – there are some good bloody ones in the OT) and act it out. Include costumes, props, sound effects – whatever you think will enhance your fun/focus
Illustrating: Pick a verse of scripture and write it out on a piece of paper. Just start doodling around the scripture, add flourish to the letters, feel what the scripture may be inspiring you to draw.
Getting in the Scene: Find a story in the Bible you enjoy (perhaps one that is very familiar to you) and imagine you’re a character in that story (mentioned in the Bible or not). Reflect on the story from your character’s perspective.
Monday, October 27, 2008
new ways
As some of you know, I've been working on a book for the past several months. A good friend of mine and I are combining our brilliance to produce a book on spiritual practices for young adults. It has been so much fun developing this book - she lets me do all the academic research! Yeah, I realize the fact that my excitement over that makes me a dork. I'm cool with that.
What I've really loved, though, is practicing the practices. We can't very well write intelligently on these things we're suggesting to others unless we do them ourselves, so each week we take on a new chapter's worth of material. I thought I was a pretty well-rounded practicing person, but there are some new things I'm adding to my spiritual repatoire.
I love drawing a text. Reading scripture and picking a verse that stands out and then writing the words while doodling (way better than taking notes in school, I promise). Really helps me stop, reflect, consider and live in each word and explore - with doodle - what that word, verse, moment means to me.
I also love considering sleep and even dreams a spiritual practice. We all know I enjoy my sleep, but I never really thought about considering sleep as a way to connect with God.
They say that when you teach something, you really learn the material. Well, I'd say the same for writing a book about something! Very enriching.
What I've really loved, though, is practicing the practices. We can't very well write intelligently on these things we're suggesting to others unless we do them ourselves, so each week we take on a new chapter's worth of material. I thought I was a pretty well-rounded practicing person, but there are some new things I'm adding to my spiritual repatoire.
I love drawing a text. Reading scripture and picking a verse that stands out and then writing the words while doodling (way better than taking notes in school, I promise). Really helps me stop, reflect, consider and live in each word and explore - with doodle - what that word, verse, moment means to me.
I also love considering sleep and even dreams a spiritual practice. We all know I enjoy my sleep, but I never really thought about considering sleep as a way to connect with God.
They say that when you teach something, you really learn the material. Well, I'd say the same for writing a book about something! Very enriching.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Don't Forget to Turn Ahead Your Clocks!
“Don’t forget to change your clocks!”
The moment I saw that sentence pop up on my computer this past Saturday night, I panicked. Daylight Savings time – already?!? I had just spent the last 14 hours traveling back to Staunton from Chicago and the last thing I expected to see when I turned on my computer to check e-mail was this announcement.
Luckily for me – and all of you who would have had to witness me deprived of a precious hour of sleep following a long and tiring day of travel – this reminder was a week early. We won’t spring forward until this Saturday evening. Once I realized the actual date, my heart rate dropped back down but this time thing was still on my mind. I had just spent a week of vacation doing nothing but relax – I read, watched movies, spent time with good friends, went to the spa (thanks to the aforementioned good friends’ generosity), and cooked. It was a perfect vacation – one where I could spend a lot of quality time resting in God. And then, the moment I get back, time – and how we’re losing it – slams right into my face. Thwack!
This Lent I have chosen to take up the practice up spending at least ten minutes a day intentionally listening for God. Most days I do pretty well with this practice, though not all. This recent bout with TIME! has reinforced how important such practices are for me – and not just during Lent. During my week away, I just was and most of the time, I was with God in a very aware way. During my weeks running around church and town, always go-go-going, I’m not as aware of my being with God. I’m not as aware of God’s being with me.
Lent is already half-way over which means my Lenten observance will not be around much longer. I’m thinking about doing something a little different this year. I’d like to pick up an Easter observance, and a Pentecost observance, and even an Ordinary Time observance! I’d like to keep being intentional about listening for God every single day. And I’d like to invite you to join me. Maybe you won’t spend 10 minutes each day listening – maybe just a few, maybe a whole hour – but I hope you take time out of each day to really stop and listen. God may have something exciting to say – it’s true – but even if God doesn’t, each minute you spend just listening for God, just being with God, is a minute of time well spent.
The moment I saw that sentence pop up on my computer this past Saturday night, I panicked. Daylight Savings time – already?!? I had just spent the last 14 hours traveling back to Staunton from Chicago and the last thing I expected to see when I turned on my computer to check e-mail was this announcement.
Luckily for me – and all of you who would have had to witness me deprived of a precious hour of sleep following a long and tiring day of travel – this reminder was a week early. We won’t spring forward until this Saturday evening. Once I realized the actual date, my heart rate dropped back down but this time thing was still on my mind. I had just spent a week of vacation doing nothing but relax – I read, watched movies, spent time with good friends, went to the spa (thanks to the aforementioned good friends’ generosity), and cooked. It was a perfect vacation – one where I could spend a lot of quality time resting in God. And then, the moment I get back, time – and how we’re losing it – slams right into my face. Thwack!
This Lent I have chosen to take up the practice up spending at least ten minutes a day intentionally listening for God. Most days I do pretty well with this practice, though not all. This recent bout with TIME! has reinforced how important such practices are for me – and not just during Lent. During my week away, I just was and most of the time, I was with God in a very aware way. During my weeks running around church and town, always go-go-going, I’m not as aware of my being with God. I’m not as aware of God’s being with me.
Lent is already half-way over which means my Lenten observance will not be around much longer. I’m thinking about doing something a little different this year. I’d like to pick up an Easter observance, and a Pentecost observance, and even an Ordinary Time observance! I’d like to keep being intentional about listening for God every single day. And I’d like to invite you to join me. Maybe you won’t spend 10 minutes each day listening – maybe just a few, maybe a whole hour – but I hope you take time out of each day to really stop and listen. God may have something exciting to say – it’s true – but even if God doesn’t, each minute you spend just listening for God, just being with God, is a minute of time well spent.
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