“You are going to feel like hell if you never write the stuff that is tugging on the sleeves of your heart — your stories, visions, memories, visions and songs. Your truth, your version of things, your own voice. That is really all you have to offer us. And that’s also why you were born.”
Anne Lamott
“You are going to feel like hell if you never write the stuff that is tugging on the sleeves of your heart — your stories, visions, memories, visions and songs. Your truth, your version of things, your own voice. That is really all you have to offer us. And that’s also why you were born.”
Anne Lamott
Too many of my days resemble driving on I 75. I am resolving to take each day “off road” — avoid congestion and constant competition with its inherent danger and stress. Traveling “off road”, with its slower pace, I will stop frequently to rest and refresh, take time to see the countryside, pause to help people with car trouble and express gratitude for all of it.
While in Florida we reside in a 55+ mobile home park ( not to be confused with trailer park). During the end of year holidays, families come to visit and young faces brighten up things. In particular there is one couple’s granddaughters that we have gotten to know. Last year I was able to convert the oldest, Hayden (3) as an Alabama football fan. She faithfully yelled “Roll Tide” each time she passed our house on her Papa’s golf cart. Her sister, Dilly (2) not so much. This year, to my surprise Hayden greeted me with a rousing, “Roll Tide”. Dilly, now three years old, is on board, “Roll Tide” each time she comes by. Of course Alabama’s loss to Georgia was a problem. I am currently teaching Hayden and Dilly to say “SEC! SEC!” but thankfully they persist with “Roll Tide”. Hayden knew that I would be sad and drew me a picture to cheer me up. She also gave Ann an early birthday gift she made because she won’t be here on Ann’s birthday. Hayden and Dilly are the first fulfillments of my New Years’ resolution to take each day “off Road”. I am grateful for them and the joy they have brought us.
In a previous post I reflected on “bridge ices before road” signs and requested suggestions for signs you would place along your life’s road to remind you of things you need to remember but often forget. There were several responses. I hope others will contribute and I will collect them and share them periodically.
As you can see there is a wide range of thoughtful responses. Feel free to add your sign.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We are on our way to Florida. This trip is different in a couple of ways. We have traveled to Florida in the winter for almost two decades. In previous years our stays ranged from two weeks in the early years to 10 weeks last year. This year we will be there for three full months. We also altered our travel plans. Until last year, we drove 12 hours the first day and had a short second day, last year because of age and health concerns we spent two nights on the road, giving us three days of 5-6 hour driving. We found that to be a pleasant experience and decided to make that our usual plan.
Previously our route was mostly Interstate 75, notorious for heavy traffic, accidents and most notably, dreaded Atlanta. With the pressure off to make the trip in two days and encouragement from friends, we decided to go “off road” on this trip. “Off road” meaning avoiding Interstate 75. Using a route provided by our friend roger, we traversed Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia, with some brief exceptions, on non-interstate highways.
I found driving to be much less stressful, even enjoyable. Traffic volume was very light, except for cities, which are mostly small. The picture above is from south Georgia and was typical of a lot of rural highways. As we drove along, I began to realize how much of a metaphor traveling interstate highways is for my life. It is my intention to write about that in future posts. There was opportunity to observe and think. One particular observation and thought will conclude in this post.
I noticed a ubiquitous sign along the way. Ahead of every bridge there was a “bridge ices before road” sign. That was not unusual but as they continued to appear it became a bit irritating. What the heck? Do they think we are stupid? OK, so there are people who are new drivers, or, they have never had cold enough wether for icy roads. Then I remembered occasions when I failed to remember that bridges freeze before the roads, so the signs have a legitimate purpose. Someone in DOT understands human nature. We humans have a memory problem. It is not a bug in the system but a feature. For reasons I do not understand it is necessary to be constantly reminded of things we already know but forget, i.e. bridges ice before roads. In thinking about bridges icing, it occurs to me that there are many other, much more important things we need to be reminded of on a consistent basis. I am creating signs to place on the roadside of my daily travels. I encourage you think about things that you know but have forgotten in the rush of life and create your own sign.
This is my first sign I’m placing on the roadside of my journey. Often forgotten it is one I need to see continually.
What is a sign you need to place on the road of your daily travels ? Feel free to share in the comments.
