Category Archives: Spiritual Practices
Among the Trees
I had a presbytery committee meeting in Bowling Green today. These meetings dwell mainly on questions of policy and process. Policy wonks love such discussions, but I am not a policy wonk. By the end of the meeting I wanted … Continue reading
Secret, Divine Action
Just as a sleeping child can be in her mother’s arms and not consciously be aware of the mother’s loving presence, so God’s presence and love are realities that are not limited to our conscious awareness. Simply intending to sincerely … Continue reading
Picture of Christ
This has become my favorite picture of Christ. I use it as an aid to prayer. It reminds you you are talking to a person and following a person. You can find a copy here.
What Is Owed
Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. Romans 13:7
Lessons Learned From Fasting
My wife and I observed a Lenten fast this year. For six weeks she was a vegetarian, and I was more or less a vegan. In different degrees we eliminated animal products from our diet. This was new to us … Continue reading
Behind the Scenes
There is a way of ordering our mental life on more than one level at once. On one level we may be thinking, discussing, seeing, calculating, meeting all the demands of external affairs. But deep within, behind the scenes, at … Continue reading
St Isaac the Syrian on Prayer
When a person perceives the coming of divine help, and that it is this which aids them, then at once their heart is filled with faith, and they understand from this that prayer is the refuge of help, a source … Continue reading
Hilaria’s Mezuzah
I delivered meals today for the Dept on Aging. A Latina woman named Hilaria had a mezuzah on the house next to her door. I asked her about it. She smiled and said it protects her from harm. You can … Continue reading
Fasting Promotes Awareness
We shared breakfast at Tip Top this morning with Moose and our friend Nancy, visiting from North Carolina. I looked over the menu and sighed at how little was allowed on a Lenten fast. No eggs, bacon, or the pancakes … Continue reading
Devotional Reading
Devotional reading in my office includes Jesus Calling and an edition of selections from The Imitation of Christ illustrated with beautiful medieval art. And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven … Continue reading
Why Are You Fasting
On Sunday my wife asked me, ‘Why are you fasting?’ I fumbled for an answer and said something about trying to draw closer to God, but as the words came out of my mouth they sounded hollow. Truth is, I … Continue reading
Ashes, Ashes
I burned the old palms last night, preparing ashes for tomorrow. This morning I walked four miles on the trail, beginning the day in silence and darkness; later I took part in a second day of training to become a … Continue reading
Prayer and Fasting
In hope of drawing closer to God, I will observe a traditional Lenten fast this year, abstaining from meat and dairy products, eating fruit, vegetables, whole grain breads, beans, and nuts, and drinking only water. Since Sundays do not count … Continue reading
The Daniel Fast
Another option for Lent is the Daniel Fast, named for Daniel in the Old Testament, who for three weeks ate only fruit and vegetables and drank only water. Daniel Fasters today eliminate meat, dairy, and sweeteners from their diet. Apparently … Continue reading
Give Up Vegetables For Lent
What people typically give up for Lent starts with what they eat (chocolate), drink (alcohol and soda), speak (profanity), and use (social media). The top 100 list goes on from there. Number 90 is vegetables. That’s it, give up vegetables … Continue reading
Quiet Days
I came to work this morning and said to our secretary, “I need to be quiet today.” To which she responded, “And this is different how?” Apparently she is on to me, the quiet man — homo tacitus. My weekend … Continue reading
Missing the Signs
This is the back door to the sanctuary, pulpit side, where a sign says Please Keep This Door Closed. Often I find the door propped open like this and close it. In the winter especially we don’t want to heat … Continue reading
First Stage of the Mystical Life
Today’s walk took me through the lovely campus of the Adrian Dominican Sisters. Appropriately, I was chewing on a quote from Dominican John Tauler, his first stage of the mystical life. It involves reflecting on the wondrous tokens of love … Continue reading
Relational Gifts, Missional Gifts
For Christmas my wife bought me two pair of jeans to broaden my stock of clothes that fit. She also got me a cover for my iPad to compliment my Kindle cover she bought three years ago. Both feature beautiful … Continue reading
Silence
Amid the commentary on the Connecticut shooting yesterday, I found someone who has said exactly what I have been thinking and feeling about it: Silence may well be a better response to grief and tragedy in this noisy world than … Continue reading
