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Preparing to rise, a moment at a time
The stories of spiritual journeys often focus on dramatic moments. Moses hears God from a burning bush. Jacob wrestles with an angel. Paul is struck blind on the road to Damascus and encounters the risen Christ. Sudden transformative mystical encounters are the core of faith stories. I don’t think we would have religion without these moments.
But as I go through Lent, I am more aware of the value of searching for God in the daily ordinary. Just because I am not having an epiphany doesn’t mean God is absent. People say the devil is in the details, but isn’t the Divine in the details too? The poetry of Psalm 139: 7-10 says,
Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
Your right hand shall hold me.
My Lenten practice is going through my day for 15 minutes using the Prayer of Examen. This prayer practice gives me time to reflect on gratitude, the moments when someone touched my heart, and my mistakes and missed opportunities. The short time spent rummaging through my ordinary life, looking for the Divine, makes some moments resonate. I notice the kindness and courage of the weary caregiver. When I see that I could have handled a situation differently, I have a chance to act anew. If I stop and name the small accomplishments of the day, they feel more like seeds of compassion scattered in the world rather than part of the unending to-do list.
These 15 minutes aren’t yielding burning bushes. But bushes were once seeds that fell to the earth took root, and sprouted. It was years before a bush was ready to burn radiantly. The gift of praying through my ordinary days is the wonder that comes with being more present. When I’m going through the motions, rushing to get things crossed off the list, I’m devaluing my time (and ultimately myself.). Then I think about what my absent self communicates to the people around me. If I am present, I’m more likely to live with curiosity, compassion, and courage. The more times I stop and practice the presence of God, the more the divine becomes a living reality.
Sometimes, I long for a dramatic vision that would inspire me on a heroic course of action. At times I have blamed myself for not being more inspired and wondered if I was listening close enough for God. But I wonder if that is more about the ego than searching for God. I’m finding freedom, grace, and resonance in my work by paying attention to what I’m doing right here, right now.
I’m a fan of Julia Cameron’s books on how to be a writer. This wisdom stuck with me when I first read her book, The Artist’s Way. Expect to be accompanied. When you sit and write, just keep moving; at some point, you will be accompanied by something more than yourself. It’s not about waiting for your muse to show up for inspiration. Writing (and life) progress when we put in the work and value the process for its own sake. Then, we discover we have become a part of something greater than ourselves.
As Lent continues, I hope you find value in the ordinary moments. Pause and remember that God is right here, right now.
Pastor Todd
Click HERE to Download the Daily Devotional for Lent
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