One Way

I’ve discovered, or re-discovered actually, one way of rekindling my passion for living in God’s presence and that will banish my spiritual apathy of Acedia.

A few months ago, a Christian bookstore in my area closed. I stopped in to see what bargains I might find at their inventory reduction sale. I found a copy of Richard Foster’s classic Celebration of Discipline. It is a book I read over twenty years ago as a Christian ‘newbie’. While being challenged by what I read, I was really too spiritually immature to grasp the depth of truth found in the practice of the spiritual disciplines. I read them on my own without engaging in any sort of accountability. It would many years before I even knew that I was supposed to be discipled into the ways of Christ by saints who’ve been travelling the narrow way longer than I. A couple of decades later, after mucking through my sin, failing and overcoming the trials and obstacles that life readily hands us, and now facing new challenges that bring both joy and anxiety, I more fully understand just how much I need to once again cultivate the spiritual disciplines in my life.

Why? Because these practices of meditation, prayer, study, fasting (yikes!), study, simplicity, solitude, submission, service, confession, worship, guidance and celebration challenge my spiritual torpor to a fight to the death. I cannot be the person God wants me to be and do the work God wants me to do, while apathy and sloth live within.

To many, the term ‘spiritual discipline’ sounds so off-putting, tinged with images of monastic life. I can appreciate this, because when I entered life on the’ narrow road’, I did so amongst a group of fellow travelers who strongly encouraged Bible reading, prayer and worship (meaning worship services), but not so much the rest them. At one time or another I’ve dabbled in most of the disciplines and been faithful to a couple, but now is not the time for dabbling. Now, I believe it is time to work at them, not to be a better Christian, but to be more like Him.

I’m inviting all comers to journey with me down the narrow path of spiritual discipline. I hope to focus on one discipline a month and I’m starting with meditation in July. I hope to share what I see, experience, and learn as I focus my spiritual eyes on what God wants me notice along the ‘narrow road.’

Until then, it’s back to our conversations on the roots that grow up in our souls that entangles and besets us.