Rohr: Service

Rohr: Service

“If your spiritual practice doesn’t lead you to some acts of concrete caring or service, then you have every reason not to trust it.”

Richard Rohr, Adapted from Richard Rohr, 107-108, Near Occasions of Grace, Orbis Books 1993, From Richard Rohr Daily Meditation from Center for Action and Contemplation, meditations@cac.org.

Richard Rohr gives us an outstanding benchmark to determine if our spiritual practices are relevant, if this practice is really working for us. If the practice leads to service or caring for others, then we are on the right track. When friends come for spiritual direction and talk about being “dry,” this can be a good test to use to determine if they should change their spiritual practices. If they are still feeling compassion for others, we might suggest to keep going with the practice a little longer. If there is no concern for others, this may be a sign to try another spiritual practice to find connection to God.

If the Spirit is working in our lives, there is only one way it can go, and that is outward. The Holy Spirit is not a halo but more like a river on the move. It can be like the current in the mighty Mississippi flowing downstream to the Gulf of Mexico, sometimes slowly, sometimes rapidly. On occasion, it can be like the rapids on the Snake River. Watch out! We will need to keep our life jackets on and stay close to our community for this one.

When we are connected to the Love of God, it must flow outward. When we are aware of God, the Christ within ourselves, it can only flow out and lead us to seeing the Christ in another.

Joanna. joannaseibert.com

Singleton: Life in Community

Singleton:

“You never get it all done.” Betsy Singleton Snyder, Stepping on Cheerios.

Methodist minister, mother of four boys, including triplets, and wife of a then member of Congress tells us what it is like to stay connected to God in the midst of daily chaos. Some of Betsy’s other favorite suggestions in Stepping on Cheerios are you “take sorta kinda breaks,” “have family movie night as a spiritual practice,” “be just yourself and nothing else,” “nurture something with your kids,” “do less comparing,” and “stop more.” “God made bossy moms” and “everyone screws up” are two other examples of her wisdom that resonated with me.

One of the parts of Betsy’s book I treasured is what she calls “the Squad.” This is an extensive list and description of people who helped her out especially after she had a serious medical complication of pregnancy and times when her husband, Victor, was in Washington or meeting with his constituents at home.

Betsy and her family are a major example of what living in community is like. Not all of us will have triplets, but all will at some time need the support and love of a community as Betsy found. It makes all the difference as we receive help until we as well can again help others. We become more open to seeing the love of Christ in our neighbor who reaches out to us. We in turn, learn from our neighbor more about the Christ in ourselves who guides us to that life giving and sacred place of gratitude.

This is a major theme of Betsy’s book. She sees lessons in a multitude of situations presented to her and always moves out of them with gratitude. Gratitude for those who help her, gratitude for lessons she has learned, gratitude for the love of God shown to her family by so many. Her last chapter is titled, “My Cup Runneth Over,” as she thanks so many for making her dreams come true.

Joanna joannaseibert.com

Temple: Church

Temple: Church

“The Church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members.”

Archbishop William Temple

Perhaps we should write Archbishop Temple’s words in stone in a prominent place in our churches. It should also be written on our hearts. I also see it as a mission statement for our soul. Jesus gives in his last discourse to the disciples before he dies this Great Commandment, “that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12) We are called to stay connected to God’s love and then to share that love with all we meet on this journey. Part of spiritual direction involves helping our spiritual friends stay aware of their connection to God by following a rule of life or observing spiritual practices on a regular basis.

There is a second part to spiritual direction, however. If we just keep that God connection to ourselves and do not share the love we have received from God, the love cannot survive.

My image of feeling God’s love is like the peace and calm and joy one feels immersed in the water of a warm bath. We cannot just stay there, however. Our skin shrivels, the water becomes cold and murky and eventually dirty. We are called to enjoy the bath, but to get out of the bath tub, put some clothes on, and connect to others about the experience by our words and actions! We may even run a bath or bathe others. We may even wash the feet of others and they may wash ours.

Loving others involves servant ministry. First, we must be connected to that love and then we are to serve and share that love with others.

Joanna. joannaseibert.com