Faith Formation

3 Colossally Simple Spiritual Practices Even You Have Time For

Spiritual practices can be hard to incorporate into a busy life. We’ve made it easy, so this year you can live more abundantly than ever.

Our real journey in life is interior. It is a matter of growth, deepening, and an ever greater surrender to the creative action of love.

Thomas Merton

Where do you find yourself on the journey as you live this present season? And how might God be inviting you onward and inward toward deeper connection?

Spiritual practices are a gift to us all. They can better our overall health and make space for our dance with God’s Spirit. However, we know you’re busy and building yet another thing into the day can seem daunting. So, we’ve included just three simple areas to explore.

We want to hear from you, too! Share with us what spiritual practices are life-giving to you. You may help another ministry leader discover the gift they’ve been hoping for.

Unprepared

So, what if you’re feeling ready for the gift but ill-equipped to unwrap it? Maybe spiritual practices are uncharted territory, and you don’t know what to do. You aren’t alone.

Maybe you’re comfortable reading a story to children and asking them discussion questions. But perhaps you’re not so sure about spending time connecting with God. There’s no shame in this. You probably just weren’t taught.

Perhaps you grew up going to church, or maybe not. Those of us not exposed to a faith tradition growing up knowing little about spiritual formation. And, it isn’t all that different for those of us raised in the Church.

Practices that open space for encounter with the Divine often take backseat to institutional protocol.

As a result, you may know how to lead spiritual formation all the while feeling pretty parched spiritually yourself.

We don’t want this for you! And it doesn’t have to be that way. These three simple practices can help.

God Talk

Take a moment. How do you think about the Divine? A giant human residing in a realm not our own? Maybe nebulous energy that animates all living things? Something like the purest stuff of what we know to be love or wisdom? A watchful parent on the lookout for failures? Maybe some or all of these and more?

We come into adulthood with lots of what we were told as children about the Divine. Somewhere along the way, we learned other stuff. Some of that jives, and some doesn’t.

So, we make sense of it and are left with ideas that have come to the foreground and those that will never be forgotten but have receded.

Not surprisingly, how we think and talk about the Divine impacts the way we engage in spiritual formation.

Consider reflecting on how your thoughts about God influence your feelings about engaging in spiritual practices.

Letting Go of Guilt

God is Love. And love isn’t about guilt. So, stop feeling guilty about your spiritual growth or lack thereof. You’re probably already parched. Why add to the load?

Just start where you are just as you are. That’s all you can do anyway in each given moment. And God asks no more of you. The Divine is always and everywhere no matter our capacity to engage. Therefore, presence and peace may abound.

Isn’t that wonderful? We can merely embrace spiritual practices with intention and presence. God beckons us.

How will you freely, joyfully, guiltlessly respond to the invitation this year?

Spiritual Practices to Explore

Make Some Space

Our minds are saturated. We’re almost always watching a screen, responding to endless messages on various platforms, thinking a mile a minute.

It’s never been harder to clear our minds. And when we’re preoccupied with all that chatter, connection to Spirit is almost impossible. So, just practice clearing a little space in all the clutter.

First, find a quiet place alone. Then, pay attention to your thoughts. Notice each one. Make no judgment about it. Place it on a leaf or cloud and watch it float away until it’s out of sight.

De-clutter. Make space for Spirit connection. That’s it, friend.

Explore Scripture

We believe that holy scriptures are set apart as those that have the power to transform. They are living texts. So, use the life with which they’re infused to enrich yours.

Do you have a favorite verse in scripture? If not, pick one. It doesn’t have to be the “right” choice. Just choose what compels you even if you aren’t sure why.

Work with that scripture somehow and see what happens. Perhaps journal about it, exploring what it means to you. Research its background and context. Or practice lectio divina with it. Speak it in a breath prayer. Write it on your mirror with a dry erase marker. Try any of these.

Get Outside

Manufactured stuff gives us so much. Offices and houses, chairs and couches, computers, phones, cars, trains. They serve us in so many ways. And so do the outdoors. But, sadly, many of us don’t see nearly enough of God’s creation outside.

You may find yourself rejuvenated by getting some sunshine and fresh air at the very least. And perhaps you’ll perceive the Spirit’s work in things like the seemingly effortless way leaves spring up from dormant branches. Maybe you’ll notice a feeling of unity with every atom that’s ever existed.

Sit or walk or run or hike or bike. Listen, look, smell, feel. However you’re compelled, get outside.

Become Still

Wherever you find yourself right at this moment, become still. It is the only moment that’s real and yours. God is ever in the present inviting you without expectation or demand to live abundantly into your whole self this new year and always.

We hope these three areas of spiritual practice can assist you in your quest. And don’t forget to share with us in the comments! What spiritual practices are serving you these days?

Breaking Through the Leader’s Struggle to Find Spiritual Growth

Alissa Ellett Leave a Comment

Amid the spiritual growth you facilitate for others, have you been saving some of it for yourself? Maybe this is the year you recover your spiritual growth practices. Or maybe even discover them for the first time.

Real Talk About Spiritual Health

If you’re teaching others about a relationship with God, your spiritual life is essential, both for their learning and your thriving. How do you stay connected to God as you walk the journey? Tell us in the comments!

Growth very often happens only when the necessary resources are available. So, your spiritual health is of top priority for you to grow and avoid burnout. If you’re giving of yourself, this is especially true.

Oh, and let me clarify. Spiritual health is all of you. Enjoying physical activity, eating foods that serve you, connecting with God. It’s all related. Think of it this way: Food is, in one category, the stuff we eat and, in another category, everything else that nourishes us. How are you feeding yourself?

Since the Spirit chooses every moment of every day to spend within you, spiritual formation can’t be separated from any of the ways you love and care for your whole self.

I recently saw Glennon Doyle speak and someone in the audience asked her how she takes care of herself amid all the work she does. This person was feeling depleted by the ministry she does. Glennon answered by saying she takes such good care of herself, it’s almost embarrassing. How many of us can say that??

Why is it tough to stay nourished while on this particular journey called church work?

The Leader’s Struggle to Grow Spiritually

It may seem strange, but ministry leaders’ spiritual growth easily gets put on the back burner. And it’s understandable.

First, pouring into others can feel like you’re pouring into yourself…for a while. You’re around all the God stuff. But you’re presenting it and not experiencing it.

Unfortunately, you don’t receive spiritual sustenance by diffusion while working in a church. Given time, you can start feeling tired or parched or beaten up or overwhelmed or hopeless or all of it.

Second, nourishing kids in their faith requires so much of your time, energy, heart and mind. And work doesn’t end when you leave the office. It’s never done, and you take it with you almost everywhere you go. Your spiritual growth can feel like one more thing to add to an already over-crowded list of tasks.

Third, self-sacrifice is highly valued. When we’re doing “the Lord’s work” there’s an invisible line in the job description that many of us sign our names to: “This is my cross to bear. I will give of myself until I can no longer.”

Rock and a Hard Place

Maybe you have felt stuck. Be still, care for yourself, and you’re not sacrificing enough. But, you’re teaching kids about God. So, you know you need to be growing spiritually. Kind of a rock and a hard place, huh?

Let’s be frank. There’s a culture in church work that isn’t good. This is important work. But, maybe it’s time to let go of the self-sacrifice, run yourself into the ground for the cause mentality.

I give you permission, ’cause Jesus gave you permission, to start thinking about your joy, your needs, your soul. Jesus needed the Garden of Gethsemane. What might you need? Get still and listen to your spirit.

Get Some You Time

Spiritual growth is what happens naturally when we encounter the Divine in a way that changes us. It’s not another task to do the right way, but rather a gift for you to relish whenever you’re ready.

We’re all on the journey together, meandering in and out of meaning and connection with God. What trail will you walk this year that will lead you toward some of both?

To start, get still and have some “you time.” In my next post, I’ll give you a few tools to use along the way.

To all that awaits you and yours in 2019!

And don’t forget. We want to hear what helps you stay connected to God as you walk the journey. Share in the comments below.

3 Dynamic Ways to Engage Kids on Ash Wednesday

Alissa Ellett Leave a Comment

Ash Wednesday is fast approaching, peep, and the beginning of Lent is right around the corner!

So, you wanna celebrate with your kids but need some ideas. We’re here to help! Use these ideas to foster discussions and more fully engage your kids.

How do you invite your kids into the celebration of Ash Wednesday? We want to know and so does your ICM community. So, share in the comments below!

How’d We Get to Forehead Crosses?

The ashes we receive today are a relic of what was long ago called the order of penitents. Before the Middle Ages, it was only possible to receive forgiveness for one’s sins after Baptism once or twice, and sins had to be confessed publicly to the bishop.

The bishop would then place the person seeking forgiveness in the order of penitents for one to three years. The penitents would sit outside the church begging for alms, wearing itchy sackcloth and covering their heads with ashes.

Over time, churches began the ritual of placing ashes upon the foreheads of the whole congregation instead. Together, the community together recognizes the sinfulness all carry. And it takes notice of the fleeting nature of our earthen footsteps, for from dust we came and to dust we will return.

Talking About Sin with Kids

Talking about sin with kids can be a daunting task. Since it’s a relevant concept to Ash Wednesday, try approaching it this way.

Explain to your kids that we all miss the mark sometimes by doing things that don’t lead to good things for us, the Earth, other people or creatures. Discuss some examples.

Missing the mark, which we call sin, is part of being human and God lovingly invites us to live each day in alignment with God’s hopes for the world.

When we celebrate Ash Wednesday, we recognize how we all miss the mark, no matter who we are. And in receiving the ashes on our foreheads we remind ourselves that we will continue in our quest to follow God’s ways each day.

3 Ways to Engage Kids on Ash Wednesday

Create Ashes

If possible, it can be a fantastic experience for children to be a part of the burning of last year’s palm branches. Some churches gather in the courtyard or even at a location off-campus for Ash Wednesday worship, so they can participate together in setting the palms ablaze.

Color

Create a coloring station or hand out coloring sheets and utensils to children as they enter. This is a wonderful way to keep them engaged. And it helps them listen and reflect during the service. Pssst. This is great for kids and adults!

Lenten Practice

Give each congregant the opportunity to write what practice they will give up or take on during Lent. This can be done on paper cut in symbolic shapes. For example, try crosses or butterflies. Then, at a special time during the service congregants can take their intention to the altar or baptismal font.

Benefits of Engaging Kids on Ash Wednesday

Sense of Belonging

Ash Wednesday is an opportunity for children to see themselves as part of the whole congregation. We all have a fundamental need to be part of something greater than ourselves. Children develop their identity in relationship to others, which means their church can be vital. Rituals like these are powerful reminders that they are not alone.

Learning by Example

The celebration of Ash Wednesday is a beautiful example for children of humility. Together, adults and children alike admit to messing up and commit to strive for God’s ways in their lives. Children learn the curriculum of honesty, vulnerability and grace represented in the practices of their faith family on Ash Wednesday. Additionally, and more importantly, children learn that in spite of missing the mark, we are in God’s presence loved and lovable.

Sensory Experience

Receiving ashes is a sensory experience, which brings to life the intangible elements of faith in the unseen. These experiences engage the body in a way that is not done at any other time during the church year. As a result, children connect more easily to the practice and theology.

The Power of Ritual

Dr. Barbara Feise, psychologist and professor at Syracuse University, researches the power of ritual in community. She and her team find that it improves overall well being and strengthens relationships and identity. She tells us also that “rituals…provide continuity in meaning across generations.”

As you begin the preparation for the mystery of Easter, we hope you find these ideas helpful and that this Ash Wednesday creates and carries on meaning for your faith family.

And don’t forget to share with all of us in the comments what ways you’re inviting kids to engage in Ash Wednesday this year!