And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." Mark 1: 10-11

During my sermon on Sunday, I spoke about the yearning each of us has to be filled with God's Spirit. You would not have come to Memorial--even if it may have been only once or twice--if you hadn't had some sort of hankering after God. You would not be reading this meditation if you weren't searching for a taste of the holy in your life. The irony of the spiritual life, however, is that you can't will God to enter your life. You can't make God change your soul. The grace of God is out of our control; it is in God's hands--and that makes us crazy. Richard Foster, author of the spiritual classic, Celebration of Discipline, talks about the Spiritual Disciplines--such as meditation, prayer, fasting, worship--- as "intended for our good. They are meant to bring the abundance of God into our lives." (p.9) When we show up at church or read a meditation, we are making a space for God in our lives--and then God does the work!

Unfortunately, we humans often think that we can (a) make our prayers,worship, fasting, etc. more perfect and become obsessed with beating ourselves about the head and heart for falling short in our practice; or (b) get so frustrated with our imperfections of making time for God or our seeming lack of spiritual progress that we give up the whole thing altogether! In my own life of prayer, I have succumbed to both of these human failings. At the start of many Advents, I have made a resolution to read the daily office in its entirety every morning. Of course, this means not just read the scripture passages appointed for the day, but read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them in such a way that I am transformed each and every day. Ha! OR I vascillate to the other extreme and swear off the daily office entirely for a period of time, knowing that in many parts of the Anglican communion, clergy are required to say the Morning and Evening Daily Office. Yes, I've spent a good part of my non-ordained and ordained life beating myself up on my prayer practices. But at some point in one's life, you realize that you do the best that you can so.....In my middle age, here is what I believe about the Spiritual Disciplines.

Mother Martha's+ Three Thoughts on Spiritual Discipline
(1)As I have begun to practice meditation taught by a Buddhist (even though I remain a Christian!), I have come to believe that all Spiritual Disciplines -whatever the faith -are about this; JUST SHOWING UP! Whatever your practice is, some days are better than others. Occasionally you have a deep insight; most days you do not. But you are making the space to be present to God and God's creation, and that is the key.

(2) Different periods in one's life call for different practices: For instance, I have practiced prayer from a Benedictine perspective and from an Ignatian angle. Some years the Daily Office (Morning or Evening Prayer in the front of Book of Common Prayer) is my practice; some years it is contemplative prayer; other years it is reading a spritual classic and journaling on its impact in my life. There have been some difficult periods in my life when all I can do is just show up at services and let the words of the liturgy wash over me. All of these practices are ways to let God's Spirit into your heart and soul. The key is not to set unrealistic expectations given your life circumstance and then beat yourself up over them and give up. If you are a young parent, quiet meditation practice may give way to a quick prayer and sleep!

(3)Don't try to do it alone! Another tendency for me and many! Find a good friend or a spiritual friend--what the Celts call an Anum Cara (or Soul Friend)--to walk the practice with you. This can be done in a group at church or one-on-one. A good place to start is with your clergy and then go from there. Make a one-on-one appointment to talk about your spiritual life and see where God leads you. In the world of the soul, the greatest danger is to be a lone ranger. In the early monastic movement, the most difficult spiritual task was to be a hermit--for you are in the wilderness with many wild beasts(your inner beasts)--alone! Start your practice in consultation with a spiritual companion--just like an AA sponsor--keep in touch so you can stay in touch with God.
Well, I've gone on for quite a while. It's a subject near and dear to my heart that I wrestle with almost daily! The good news is that God is always with us--all we have to do is show up! That's all God needs to work God grace in our lives through the Holy Spirit.

Text: Mark 1:7-11

Pondering: So, what have been your struggles with Christian practice? Are you hard on yourself? Get frustrated with the seeming lack of spiritual progress? Just take a quiet walk or sit for a spell--see what God might ask you to do next to make a space for God.

In Christ's Love,