Recalibrating Practices: How will you G-R-O-W this year?

Every year I choose a word as a theme to recalibrate around. But, as a woman flooded with words, it’s swollen in the past few years into an acronym : G-R-O-W.

Gratitude. Resilience. Obedience. Wonder.

(In 2021, I’m going to make it G-R-O-W-L because we all need some laughter. Every day.)

These words are part of my current “rule of life,” a spiritual practice which serves as as a way to set a sacred pace for your life. (More on developing a “rule of life” in an upcoming newsletter.)

G-R-O-W jelled when three friends from different seasons of my life who didn’t know each other gathered to help usher in my 60th birthday at the beach. One afternoon, we sat for a few hours with our feet in the sand and spoke about our biggest fears and desires as we stare down the second half (or last quarter in my case).

It was then I realized the things I fear are the flip side of what I most want.  

I fear ending up bitter, cynical, and judgmental. I fear II’ll give up on my dreams, deaden my longings, and become rigid and inflexible in my beliefs and habits. I fear I’ll lose my love for Jesus and rationalize or minimize my sin. I fear I’ll become bored, apathetic, tired, and joyless.

What do I most desire as I stare down my failures, confusion, disappointments? I want to be grateful every day, to keep going and trying new things. (Which means I want to keep failing.) I want to love Jesus more and respond to him out of love not as a means to an end. I want to live a life of wide-eyed joy in the mysteries and beauty of life. And I want to laugh uncontrollably—tears streaming and unable to catch my breath—with those around me.

For the next few posts, I will explore G-R-O-W-L. Starting with:

GRATITUDE 

Henri Nouwen writes, “Gratitude is the awareness that life in all its manifestations is a gift for which we want to give thanks. The closer we come to God in prayer, the more we become aware of the abundance of God’s gifts to us. We may even discover the presence of these gifts in the midst of our pains and sorrows. The mystery of the spiritual life is that many of the events, people, and situations that for a long time seemed to inhibit our way to God become ways of being united more deeply with him. What seemed a hindrance proves to be a gift. Thus, gratitude becomes a quality of our hearts that allows us to live joyfully and peacefully even though our struggles continue.”

There are wonderful podcasts, Ted Talks, and apps which can help retrain your brain to gratitude. I love the Five Minute Journal because I can do it in two minutes a day and add a photo. It’s good to have a place to skim back and remember that life isn’t so bad.

Ron Rolheiser, OMI writes, “Gratitude is the ultimate virtue, undergirding everything else, even love. It is synonymous with holiness. Gratitude not only defines sanctity, it also defines maturity. We are mature to the degree that we are grateful. But what brings us there? What makes for a deeper human maturity?” He then lists 10 ways we need to address to embrace gratitude. I’d love to know which most resonates with you.

He writes, “God is a prodigiously-loving, fully-understanding, completely-empathic parent. We are mature and free of false anxiety to the degree that we grasp that and trust that truth.”

 Start with just soaking in some of h the many Scriptures on thankfulness, like Colossians 3:12-17. Before going to bed, write down 1-3 small or big things you’re grateful for that day. Or take a photo a day of one thing you’re grateful for. Or thank someone (with specific reasons why you’re thankful) once a day (at least!)

Please let me know your gratitude habits.

Next up: Resilience!

Recalibrating Practices: Lectio Divina, A Way to Let Scripture Form You

Recalibrating is about slowing down and paying attention to our GPS (God’s Prevailing Spirit) to keep finding our way home. It applies to our approach to Scripture as well. Many American believers learn to study the Bible for information more than transformation. We concentrate on the facts, context, and applications. There is a much-needed place for this approach but it also exposes how some of us (me!) try to get it “right” and then check off “Quiet Time” from our (my!) daily lists. And how we (I!) like being in control, even in our (my!) encounters with the supernatural living Word of God.  

 How can we allow Scripture to take hold of us and transform our hearts as well as our minds?

 Lectio Divina (sacred reading), an ancient discipline of the Church, offers a way to slow down and allow the Holy Spirit to lead our experience of Scripture.

 Choose a shorter section of Scripture (usually a few verses) and read it several times as if you’ve never heard it before. That can be challenging, especially with familiar passages. I fear that many of us are like Charlie Brown and only hear the teacher’s “wah-wah-wah” as we “skim” over Scripture.

Read it as you would for a longed-for love letter. Hear it expecting God to speak personally to you. Listen with the question, “God what are you saying to me in these verses?” Be ready to be surprised or disturbed.

It is helpful to write your thoughts or sketch out your impressions in a journal to stay focused and remember it throughout the day. Consider reading the verses from different translations or versions of the Bible. Read the passage at least three times. Here are some simple steps:

Prepare: Pause before reading. Close your eyes. Be still and silent. Breathe deeply. Pray for God’s Spirit to be with you.

Read: Listen for the word or phrase that resonates for you or seems to jump out. Read aloud to actually “hear” the words. Let yourself be surprised if it is not a word or phrase you expected. Write down these words before moving to the next reading.

Reflect: Read the passage again slowly. How is my life touched by this word?  Where am I in this story? Use all your five senses and imagination. Write down your thoughts or sketch out your impressions.

Respond/Rest: Read the passage again and ask God to let you hear it afresh. Is there an invitation to respond in some way?  If you have time, read the passage again. During this reading, release your concerns and rest in God.

Resolve: How will you live out the Word of God you have just received?  Is there an image or picture from this Scripture that will help you remember it throughout the day? 

Don’t be frustrated if you don’t “feel” like you’ve gotten anything. It’s not a formula or system to work, but a different way of engaging in Scripture. Return to “Rest,” knowing that the Word of God is powerful, trusting and asking God to embed it in your soul, and make it personal to you over the weeks and months.

Lectio divina is a powerful small-group practice as well. Allow time at the conclusion for discussion on what most impressed them or what God stirred in them. It’s fascinating how differently people can receive the same passage of Scripture.

There are many excellent books on lectio divina and other transformative practices involving Scripture. I recommend Ruth Haley Barton’s Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation, Robert Mulholland’s Shaped by the Word, Marjorie Thompson’s Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life, and Eugene Peterson’s Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading.