Spiritual Courage and the Spirit
There are many ways to explain so many facets of human identity: the way our bodies look or function, the tendencies we have for this or that ability, or preference, or susceptibility. But despite advances in genetics and mind-mapping it is still not possible to explain exactly what makes us who we are: why some of us are brought to our knees with awe when we see sunsets or towering cathedrals, and others when they hear music; why some of us are moved to courageous compassion and generosity, are brought to tears at the thought of another's suffering, or moved to sacrifice on behalf of something as intangible as "love".
And yet, that's what we do and who we are as "spiritual beings having a physical experience".
We are more than our minds and our bodies. We are more than the experiences that shape our perspectives and habits. And that "more" (called Spirit) is so powerful and precious that much of human history and culture has been given to defining and controlling it.
Spiritual courage comes, in part, from our ability to recognize that we are more than our minds, bodies, or experiences; that we are capable of more love and compassion than we can imagine.
While immortality and social harmony may NOT be our birthright, awe and gratitude and the ability to make a tangible difference in one another's lives IS!
These are some of the questions we might explore during a Spiritual Direction session:
What are your core beliefs about your spiritual identity?
From whom did you learn it? How did that help or hinder you? Have your beliefs changed?
What aspect of your spiritual identity are you wanting to understand or relate to differently?
What burdens your Spirit? What needs to be held in compassion?
What helps you connect with the Source that nurtures your Spirit?
*
This is how I am choosing (today) to answer such questions for myself:
I believe that I am here/alive in order to help my Spirit grow in wisdom and compassion through full engagement with the human experience.
I learned this by seeking out stillness, learning to meditate and pray, by honoring the intuitive knowledge and wisdom that is so often denigrated in this society. Some of my beliefs are challenged and others are affirmed as I continue to be attentive to life and learn about different belief systems.
I sometimes struggle with balancing the necessity for flexibility in my schedule with a commitment to certain spiritual disciplines.
My Spirit is burdened by how easy it is to be distracted by external concerns and how hard it can be to life faithfully.
I feel most connected to Source when I am in nature, when I paint, and when I am in the company of others who recognize and honor the Divine as woven through every being and every part of creation.
I feel most connected when I clear my mind, allow my body to rest, and to consciously welcome and praise divinity. And, when I can help others do so in a way that feels meaningful to them.
Additional reflections:
At a retreat a few years ago I led my colleagues in a discussion on "spirituality", focused on heart-opening "awe": where and how we experience it, how it changes us, and whether and how we can nurture it in our own lives. I consider experiences of awe absolutely essential to my own well being and to my ability to serve with authenticity and integrity in a ministerial capacity. I'm convinced that members of our Unitarian Universalist congregations would benefit from more opportunities to explore and share their own experiences.
As a mystic I experience the presence of Divinity within each of us, woven through each day into activities as mundane as driving to work and taking the dogs for a walk. I experience it when I step outside and see the light of a new day; when I draw, paint, play my flute, sing, pray, read Rilke and Rumi and Joanna Macy and scripture; when I travel to beloved landscapes or discover new ones; when I blow bubbles, sit at a hospital bedside, chant, listen to music, dance or do Reiki; when tears flow or laughter explodes; when I see fireflies or hear drums; when I bear witness to the faith journey of others; when I feel my heart open in forgiveness or trust; when I hug my children and recognize myself in a stranger. Each of these experiences open me to life's incredible fragility and resilience, it's beauty and abundance. They bring focus to my place within a huge, complex system of realities and possibilities, opening me to gratitude and the desire to help other people feel as connected, affirmed and empowered.
I find time in and with nature incredibly transformative. The Berkshire Mountains in New York are very precious to me and I try to spend some time there each summer with my Fire Tribe. Daily gratitude practices help draw attention to the presence of Spirit in all times, places and beings, as does preaching and Deep Listening. Poi/Fire spinning is a form of embodied prayer I took up for a while. During my congregational ministry years, when I realized that I just didn't have enough consistent time for drawing and painting anymore, I started a practice of taken daily photographs of shadows and light, portals, hands, textures - allowing those images to speak for that place within me where words have no hold. In 2018 I started painting again, again allowing Spirit to speak through the images. I post many of them on my Facebook page (TendingSpirit) every morning. More recently I've been drawn to a daily prayer practice and, during the days between Passover and Shavuot, a practice of Counting the Omer.
There are many ways to explain so many facets of human identity: the way our bodies look or function, the tendencies we have for this or that ability, or preference, or susceptibility. But despite advances in genetics and mind-mapping it is still not possible to explain exactly what makes us who we are: why some of us are brought to our knees with awe when we see sunsets or towering cathedrals, and others when they hear music; why some of us are moved to courageous compassion and generosity, are brought to tears at the thought of another's suffering, or moved to sacrifice on behalf of something as intangible as "love".
And yet, that's what we do and who we are as "spiritual beings having a physical experience".
We are more than our minds and our bodies. We are more than the experiences that shape our perspectives and habits. And that "more" (called Spirit) is so powerful and precious that much of human history and culture has been given to defining and controlling it.
Spiritual courage comes, in part, from our ability to recognize that we are more than our minds, bodies, or experiences; that we are capable of more love and compassion than we can imagine.
While immortality and social harmony may NOT be our birthright, awe and gratitude and the ability to make a tangible difference in one another's lives IS!
These are some of the questions we might explore during a Spiritual Direction session:
What are your core beliefs about your spiritual identity?
From whom did you learn it? How did that help or hinder you? Have your beliefs changed?
What aspect of your spiritual identity are you wanting to understand or relate to differently?
What burdens your Spirit? What needs to be held in compassion?
What helps you connect with the Source that nurtures your Spirit?
*
This is how I am choosing (today) to answer such questions for myself:
I believe that I am here/alive in order to help my Spirit grow in wisdom and compassion through full engagement with the human experience.
I learned this by seeking out stillness, learning to meditate and pray, by honoring the intuitive knowledge and wisdom that is so often denigrated in this society. Some of my beliefs are challenged and others are affirmed as I continue to be attentive to life and learn about different belief systems.
I sometimes struggle with balancing the necessity for flexibility in my schedule with a commitment to certain spiritual disciplines.
My Spirit is burdened by how easy it is to be distracted by external concerns and how hard it can be to life faithfully.
I feel most connected to Source when I am in nature, when I paint, and when I am in the company of others who recognize and honor the Divine as woven through every being and every part of creation.
I feel most connected when I clear my mind, allow my body to rest, and to consciously welcome and praise divinity. And, when I can help others do so in a way that feels meaningful to them.
Additional reflections:
At a retreat a few years ago I led my colleagues in a discussion on "spirituality", focused on heart-opening "awe": where and how we experience it, how it changes us, and whether and how we can nurture it in our own lives. I consider experiences of awe absolutely essential to my own well being and to my ability to serve with authenticity and integrity in a ministerial capacity. I'm convinced that members of our Unitarian Universalist congregations would benefit from more opportunities to explore and share their own experiences.
As a mystic I experience the presence of Divinity within each of us, woven through each day into activities as mundane as driving to work and taking the dogs for a walk. I experience it when I step outside and see the light of a new day; when I draw, paint, play my flute, sing, pray, read Rilke and Rumi and Joanna Macy and scripture; when I travel to beloved landscapes or discover new ones; when I blow bubbles, sit at a hospital bedside, chant, listen to music, dance or do Reiki; when tears flow or laughter explodes; when I see fireflies or hear drums; when I bear witness to the faith journey of others; when I feel my heart open in forgiveness or trust; when I hug my children and recognize myself in a stranger. Each of these experiences open me to life's incredible fragility and resilience, it's beauty and abundance. They bring focus to my place within a huge, complex system of realities and possibilities, opening me to gratitude and the desire to help other people feel as connected, affirmed and empowered.
I find time in and with nature incredibly transformative. The Berkshire Mountains in New York are very precious to me and I try to spend some time there each summer with my Fire Tribe. Daily gratitude practices help draw attention to the presence of Spirit in all times, places and beings, as does preaching and Deep Listening. Poi/Fire spinning is a form of embodied prayer I took up for a while. During my congregational ministry years, when I realized that I just didn't have enough consistent time for drawing and painting anymore, I started a practice of taken daily photographs of shadows and light, portals, hands, textures - allowing those images to speak for that place within me where words have no hold. In 2018 I started painting again, again allowing Spirit to speak through the images. I post many of them on my Facebook page (TendingSpirit) every morning. More recently I've been drawn to a daily prayer practice and, during the days between Passover and Shavuot, a practice of Counting the Omer.