Spiritual disciplines are habits, practices, and experiences that are designed to develop, grow, and strengthen certain qualities of spirit — to build the “muscles” of one’s character and expand the breadth of one’s inner life. They structure the “workouts” which train the soul.
https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/behavior/introduction-spiritual-disciplines/
After reading the definition of spiritual disciplines and further reflection on our experience traveling to Florida “Off Road”, (“Off road” meaning avoiding Interstate 75 using a route traversing Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia, with some brief exceptions, on non-interstate highways.) I believe traveling “Off Road” qualifies as a spiritual discipline.
I have, for the most part, thought of spiritual discipline in a classical sense. Influenced by Richard Foster, his list of disciplines comes to mind:
The inward disciplines:
Meditation
Prayer
Fasting
Study
The outward disciplines (inward realities resulting in outward lifestyles):
Simplicity
Solitude
Submission
Service
The corporate disciplines:
Confession
Worship
Guidance
Celebration
For most of my life, I viewed spiritual disciplines as religious requirements, adoption and practice of, necessary to be more acceptable, righteous in God’s eyes. For example, finding myself wandering from the “straight and narrow” spiritual disciplines were a convenient cure. Not surprisingly, disciplines most often chosen were study, service, worship(church attendance), and prayer, generally in that order. Of course, the underlying problem was my assumption that somehow I could earn Gods’ favor and be spiritually transformed through the exercise of religious practices.
For the past few decades, embracing the grace and mercy of God through Christ provided a different lens through which to view religious practices and their relationship to spiritual formation. Theologically and intellectually I understand spiritual disciplines are means to spiritual health, not ends in themselves.
Despite an enlightened understanding of spiritual disciplines, I continue to fall prey to to performing spiritual disciplines to improve outward appearance of spiritual health rather than exercises to train and transform my soul. Improving outward spiritual health is beneficial, but the soul is not nourished.
If you start any kind of physical exercise program, you’ll enhance your health. But people who are most successful in making exercise a habit, who stick with a program and see real results — significant transformations in their physical aptitudes and physique — are those who have a higher purpose beyond simply “better health.” …
Likewise, doing the spiritual disciplines out of a simple desire to improve the general health of the soul will certainly garner something of the intended effect. But this effect will be much smaller, and the disciplines far harder to stick , than if they were approached with a higher purpose in mind. It’s hard enough to find time in one’s day for such habits when you’re clear on their raison d’etre. Without one, activities that require discipline will assuredly fall victim to those that don’t, like smartphone surfing and Netflix watching.https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/behavior/introduction-spiritual-disciplines/
Driving Interstate highways is analogous to performing spiritual disciplines to improve spiritual health. Efficient and beneficial in several ways, interstate travel is consistent with our hurried lives, but provides little opportunity for spiritual nourishment. After all, one can drive 1000 + miles and never encounter a stoplight while fulfilling dreams of competing in a NASCAR event. Interstate travel is an optimal secular experience, feeding deep needs of self- interest, individual autonomy, control and accomplishment.
Reflecting on my engagement with spiritual disciplines, it appears their purpose has been more about fulfilling felt needs than training and nourishing my soul. Traveling “Off Road” was an epiphany, illustrating how an innocuous decision could provide spiritual nourishment. In this context, the decision to go “Off Road” was an exercise in spiritual discipline. I have gained new perspectives on spiritual disciplines. First, is the necessity of embracing a higher purpose when practicing spiritual disciplines, this seems obvious, but reality is, I have adopted them as religious ritual rather than spiritual practices, rituals believed to find favor with God, but do not train nor nourish heart or soul giving only the appearance of righteousness.
Obeying these rules may seem to be the smart thing to do. They appear to make you love God more and to be very humble and to have control over your body. But they don’t really have any power over our desires.
Colossians 2:23 – CEV
Second, is an understanding of the role of “noetic perception” in the adoption of and practice of spiritual disciplines. An unfamiliar idea, Fr Stephen Freeman has been helpful:
“Noetic perception” is a phrase that describes the ability of the human heart to perceive that which is Divine. As such, it is our capacity for communion with God and the whole of creation. … Without such a perception, we do not see the truth of things. By the same token, without such a perception, we cannot know the truth of our own selves.
Noetic living is not a technique, per se. It simply describes the proper grounding for the spiritual life. Thus, whether reading Scripture, praying, attending a service, or simply being still, we actively and quietly offer ourselves to God. We should not expect this to automatically produce some wonderful result (it’s not a technique). But as we engage in these activities with the right mind (noetically, neptically, hesychastically) we do indeed learn to perceive God. We learn to be aware of what our nous perceives.
The nous is not a faculty of consumption. It is a faculty of perception, particularly of spiritual perception. The modern struggle to experience God often fails because it is carried out by consumers. God, the true and living God, cannot be consumed, nor can He be known by the tools of consumption. Consumerist Christianity peddles experience and ideas about God. It has little or nothing to do with God Himself.
If there were anything that a Christian could practice that would help nurture this aspect of their life, it would be refraining as much as possible from the consumerism of our culture. It teaches us habits that are very destructive to our souls. Instead, we should practice generosity and kindness, and give ourselves over to the care of God rather than the spirit of shopping. You cannot serve God and mammon.
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That is a lot to take in. Let me summarize what it means for me so far.
Classic spiritual disciplines are not to be discarded because they can be abused. Spiritual disciplines are not the problem.
“Noetic perception”, must be nurtured by surrendering to God’s work through the Holy Spirit, so my heart will perceive the divine. As the divine is perceived, spiritual disciplines will find higher purpose.
Spiritual discipline will encompass practices, habits and experiences previously undiscovered. (Traveling “off road”?)
I am challenged to see daily life with a right mind, so my practices, habits and experiences will train and nourish my soul. That is a work of God.
Still on the Journey