When I first came in contact with Community of Christ, I could not have told you what a spiritual practice was. I’d never heard the term, and I had no clue about engaging in the process. When I’m not certain about something new, I may hesitate in the beginning. I didn’t want to do it wrong or look stupid. What I found out is that you CAN’T do this wrong.
I’m going to use a broad definition to describe what a spiritual practice is and why e it is useful and needful in our spiritual journey.
Broadly speaking, a spiritual practice could be something that we engage in that brings us closer to our spiritual selves. We do these things thoughtfully and, many times, on a regular basis. A few of them will be mentioned below, where I suggest several ways in which we may be connecting to the divine on a daily basis.
Thoughtful Reading
It isn’t about getting through the book; it’s about doing a slow reading of the words to understand their deeper meaning and content. We practice reflective reading, stopping to take in what the author is saying and wanting us to understand, and then making our own deeper connection with what we’ve read.
A few of my favorite authors that I engage on a regular basis are Richard Rohr, Henri J. Nouwen, and Barbara Brown Taylor, to mention three of the more well-known authors. Reading these three leads to reading others and finding nourishment in new and wonderful places. I read in the morning. Reading teaches me and opens my heart and mind to places I may have never gone. Reading is food.
The Divinas!
Lectio, visio, and even an audio version. Holy reading, looking, hearing. Typically, we are seeing, reading, or hearing something three times and focusing on different aspects of a question or questions. The subject matter leads us into a deeper contemplation with our spiritual selves. It is our time to connect with our higher selves and the numinous. This practice could be done individually or in groups. I actually gain a great deal from the sharing of others in this situation. If you love the arts, this practice is for you!
Sitting with Nature
It isn’t an escape when people say that they find God in nature vs. sitting in a pew. Finding the spiritual in the song of a bird, the dancing of the butterfly, the swan gliding gracefully on the water, or the tall oak is all about connecting with our inner selves and something that is more than us. It is why people might camp, fish, or observe the sunrise or sunset. It is why we might sit by a lake and watch, or dip our feet into the water and observe. Nature as a spiritual practice is powerful.
Creativity
We each create. We cook, sew, write, sing, connect with others in conversation, and exchange ideas. Our existence brings about creation. There is creativity in each of us because we are each unique. How do you create daily? The meals you make, the playlist you’ve crafted, the stories you tell to your child? How do you touch the creative within yourself? Creativity in and of itself is a wonderous spiritual practice.
The next time you walk, ride your bike, take a hike, go for a swim, read, look at art, or enjoy music, take the time to pause and sense what you are feeling inside. How is your soul connecting with what you’re involved in?