On Friday night we talk about the history of the word “spiritual”
in the Presbyterian tradition and why it started with a bad rap. Our instructor
is very tall and she has back problems, so she keeps lifting one leg up on a
chair and leaning down with her elbow on that knee. She is an elegant crane but
I feel bad for her the whole time. She has us open class with a full body
prayer and my heart lifts with my hands as I reach up to what means the most.
We are learning about spiritual formation and I think it’s
my favorite class yet in these two years of learning. She uses poetry from Wendell
Berry and Mary Oliver to make her points and more than once my smile extends
all the way to my heart.
We close Friday evening with an evening prayer practice and
it is like a warm glass of milk. I am happy.
Saturday morning we arrive with shiny faces and the lecture
begins anew. We listen about Lectio Divina, Sabbath Keeping, Discernment and
Examen, among others. We do a Lectio Divina exercise on a poem by Judy Brown. “Fire”
it is called. And I am burning.
John Calvin calls God the searcher of hearts, and I feel His hands smoothing out the walls of
mine as I sit with my classmates in rapt attention.
O Holy Spirit…Come,
we pray together.
Come.
To enlighten our
minds,
Touch our hearts,
And deepen our desires…
And my desires are deepened. My life is a prayer.
Sit and be still
until in the time
of no rain you hear
beneath the dry wind's
commotion in the trees
the sound of flowing
water among the rocks,
a stream unheard before,
and you are where
breathing is prayer. (Wendell Berry, Given:
Poems)
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22 comments:
Wendell Berry's poem reached out and embraced my heart.
Lectio Divina is a practice I enjoy very much. Great post,Laura.
Love that poem from Berry. I need a little more time in the rain right now :)
My smile extends all the way to my heart after reading this.
What a beautiful poem! "Hannah Coulter" is on my mp3 player for as soon as I finish my current listen. I've heard so much about Wendell Berry and am looking forward to experiencing his voice for myself. This is a perfect appetizer.
The photo fits just right with the post and title, too.
Grace and peace to you in Jesus. May God fulfill your desire to be (con)formed to His likeness.
sigh.
this was good.
and I like that I can visualize you so at peace and content..
wonderful post.
Hi Laura =)
my smile extendes all the way to my heart....
i truly love how you do that.
My two closest friends are spiritual directors and I was their primary beneficiary (read very blessed and favored guinea pig) as they went through training and now, beyond. I am happy for you to be on this journey. I know God is and will continue to bless/use you through this. Wonderful!
What a gentle and lovely photo. Thanks for your thoughts about prayer and spiritual growth. It's always beautiful when someone takes the time and effort to cultivate the deeps of their life in God!
May the Lord encourage you each new day. The Bible says "the steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord," and that goes for a woman, too! I trust him to guide you into himself, so you will know that you know you have entered into his will for your life.
To enlighten my mind and touch my heart...yes.
How interesting. I can't imagine. I mean, I can imagine for you, but I can't imagine for me. Which makes me want to try it.
(the full body prayer, that is)
Oh, I think I'm there in spirit in this class you are in. Drinking in...a sip of that warm milk.
With hands lifted up and praise on our lips, we worship our Savior. He is being "Formed" in us and we are becoming more like Him each day.
Would have loved to have been part of the discussion about how "spiritual" got such a bad rap. I've been thinking the same thing about "mystery."
"My desires are deepened. My life is a prayer."
I had a playdate with God Sunday afternoon with friends from church. They came over for a Joy Jam--we each shared an object that represents joy to us and chose a song of joyful praise to sing with everyone.
You have brought us into a spirit of gentleness with just a few words. I'm sure that each of us has copied and pasted the exquisite Berry. Beautiful, Laura.
breathing is prayer..until my God desires are deepend.
love
xo
That sounds like a wonderful class. The poetry and prayer and practices, what a soothing combination. Blessings on your journey with it all.
Love that Wendell Berry prayer. Sounds like you are learning and experiencing some good things in the spiritual disciplines category! Very uplifting, Laura.
I want this class.
Thank you, Laura, for igniting that desire in me.
Laura - this is beautiful. Berry's poem at the end pierced straight through - after walking in a desert place for months I can hear the water. Thanks so much. Blessings to you and thanks for your sweet words at my place.
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