Spiritual Practices

It feels like we are always running out of time. The present rushes into the past, pushing us into the future. We struggle to keep up with the current of time, but are constantly carried along to the next thing. We feel that if we pause to reflect, or to breathe, we will fall behind and miss […]

It is the beginning of a new year. We have parades and other special events. We stay up to count down until the new year begins. Many of us see a new year like a clean slate, the top of a fresh page. We are intentional about the changes we want to make, and the

We seem to believe that spiritual life is stronger in some places than others. Some people experience churches, or synagogues, or mosques as places of spiritual life. Some of us seek spiritual life among trees in the forest, or in the mountains, or at the shore. For some, spiritual life is about finding our way home. For others, it is

Advent is a gift to us when hope is in short supply. Each year as the nights grow darker and colder, we receive the gift of a new Advent. We can see light shining in the darkness which the darkness cannot overcome. Advent reminds us that even the darkest night is followed by the hope of a new dawn. When we

Spiritual life often catches us by surprise. We are following our routine, minding our own business, when something captures our attention. It may be a particular person, a work of art, or a striking sunset. It may be scenery, an enticing aroma, music that stirs our heart, or something truly delicious. We realize there is more

We live in a time which does not do anticipation well. We want our gratification, and we want it now. We mash everything together into “holiday” season. We do not want to wait the few weeks from the end of October to the end of December. We create new ways to “celebrate” immediately, like Black Friday and

Spiritual life is a series of fresh starts, new beginnings. Some people think that spiritual life is about maintaining a perfect record, not making any mistakes. Spiritual life is, in fact, about starting new again and again and again. We learn from mistakes. One of the most important things we learn is to keep starting over, keep

Spiritual life makes eye contact. Spiritual life does not look away, and we see ourselves reflected in its gaze. We feel ourselves caught up in the embrace of spiritual life. Spiritual life can feel warm and protective, like a great hug. There are times when spiritual life can feel constraining, like we are being held whether

There have been times when spiritual life felt like holding my breath. We do not want to upset anyone, to make anyone feel uncomfortable. We know what people expect of us and are careful to give them the right impression. We know what they want us to do or say. We know the answers we are

We tend to be afraid of what is waiting for us, hiding in the dark. We prefer to deal with things we know we can control. When we cannot see what is out there in the dark, we do not know whether we can control whatever it is. We try to control the darkness around