Train yourself for a holy life! While physical training has some value, trainingin holy living is useful for everything. It has promise for this life now andthe life to come. 1 Timothy 4:8
We as people of faith are encouraged to engage in some kind of spiritual practice. It might be reading scripture or setting aside a specific time for prayer. Journaling is another form of spiritual practice that is often suggested. I’ve tried to sit quietly and read a devotion or scripture. I have tried to be more intentional with my practice of prayer, but I have not been able to stick with it over any period of time.
I have found myself working in my garden many times right after worship on Sunday mornings. I find this time has become a quiet time for me. Sometimes I reflect on George’s sermon. Other times I don’t have any thoughts, and I just listen. I have had more than a few aha moments during this time of listening.
One such moment came this past Sunday. I saw a butterfly, or maybe it’s a moth, I still never can remember the difference. Once again, I was in awe of God’s wonders. How does that butterfly, or moth know there are plants here? Or how incredible is the perfect timing between the male and female zucchini that must happen for a zucchini plant to be fertilized in order to produce? It again became clear to me that the intricacies of the natural world and the way it is all connected is something only God could orchestrate.
Another aha moment that came on Sunday was that in this time of quiet and listening God speaks to me but more importantly I can hear God. I realized that I have found a spiritual practice and one that works for me. I didn’t set out to have this garden become my spiritual practice, but it has grown into that.
In this forced time of slowing down I was able to find a spiritual practice and that is something I have never been able to do in the past. Was it because I have never been dedicated to setting aside the time and committing to any of the practices or was it because I never found the one that has worked for me? I don’t know. What I do know that because of this time that has been pushed upon us by COVID-19 is that I have found a spiritual practice and what a blessing that is. I encourage you to keep your eyes, ears and hearts open while doing the things you love to do, and I bet you will find a spiritual practice too.
God of wonder, your works are amazing and give us a space for those aha moments to develop. Thank you for your patience with us as we train for holy living. Thank you for your flexibility in the ways you connect with us so that we can be in a relationship with You. Help us to find the moments of quiet so that we can hear You. Amen
Marty Drake