This made me think; I probably need to "work" more in the area of connecting to what I feel is sacred and divine. We must keep in mind that our perceptions of "work" are very individual, be it spiritual work or practical, human work.
Lyle McKenzie serves as pastor of Lutheran Church of the Cross of Victoria and as a part-time chaplain with the University of Victoria Multifaith Services.
We hear “use it or lose it” as encouragement or warning about our physical and mental health or capacity, sex as we age, and even exercising our political franchise. If “spirituality,” despite all its various uses and definitions, has something to do with our human capacity to relate to God/the divine/sacred and in a deeper way to our “neighbour” and the world around us, does the same encouragement or warning apply? Use it or lose it?
Ancient and contemporary religious or spiritual “practices” are intended to develop this capacity or openness to relate to God/the divine/sacred, one another and the planet we share. Worship and prayer – including contemplation/meditation, reading and study of sacred texts, forgiveness, justice, service to others - especially those most in need, and community - including inviting and encouraging others; may all contribute to spiritual/religious health and strength. Religious/spiritual communities have revered individuals who have demonstrated particular devotion to practice, and their capacity to reflect God/the divine/sacred in their lives and actions. To practise “using” this spiritual/religious capacity can encourage its health and development. Does not using it then mean losing it? And does that matter? Religious/spiritual practices have also been “used” to distinguish ourselves from others as superior, to control others especially through fear, or to exclude others, all on the basis of a claimed greater knowledge of God/the divine/sacred. Practices better not used, and best lost for good!
As participation in religious communities declines, even as spiritual practices may be increasing for some, are we losing our capacity for relating to God/the divine/sacred and our compassion for the people and the world around us? Richard Rohr, Roman priest, activist, author and founder of the Centre for Action and Contemplation, claims, with many others before and with and after him, an essential link between spiritual practice and compassionate action for the world. In simple terms, prayer without “work” is self serving. And work, no matter how compassionate, without grounding in a sacredness and power greater than ourselves leads to disillusionment, burnout and despair, and can be just as self serving. Contemplation and action, mysticism and resistance, prayer and work, by whatever terms, is it, use it or lose it?
A simple or universal answer to the question would be unwise. But it may be important to ask the question, “Is something lost in us and in our world when openness or intention to God/the divine/sacred and people and the world around us as sacred, is not practiced in any particular way? Are signs of this loss in our contemporary culture, in relationship to the planet, one another, the most vulnerable, those different from ourselves, evident to us? And maybe just asking the question invites us to consider some new or renewed spiritual/religious practice; a reconnecting with or strengthening of a religious/spiritual community or group; a new expression of prayer/contemplation/meditation and compassionate action for the sake of others and this world we share; that nothing sacred and good is lost forever.
Full article:
http://communities.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/blogs/spirituallyspeaking/archive/2011/07/07/spirituality-use-it-or-lose-it.aspx
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
