Living a Spiritual Life

            My thoughts were stimulated by the ideas produced by Hymers Wilson in an article he wrote in the July 2019 edition of Ministry.  The article was entitled “What is ‘spiritual’ about being spiritual?”

            Wilson indicated in his article that the word “spiritual” has been used in so many different contexts that it seems to have lost it true meaning.  For instance, the word is often used to mean “holy” which in itself ventures to be vague and leads us to consider it somewhat ethereal, ghostly or supernatural.

            I have heard people who have returned from a retreat describe the event as one of the most spiritual experiences they have ever had.  What did they really mean?  Was it an experience where everyone was in a constant misty-eyed attitude of prayer?  Was it an experience where everyone was smiling happily with no disagreements or outbreaks of anger? 

            Or was it an experience where the Holy Spirit was present in abundance bringing feelings within the gathering of peace, unity, reassurance and thanksgiving.  Attendees may have also experienced an increase in faith in their God as well as receiving a spiritual awakening to become more obedient servants.  I wondered: is being a spiritual person something deeper than the feelings I have indicated?

            How does Scripture use the term spiritual?  In the Bible, the concept of spirituality originates with the Holy Spirit not with humans.  Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12 the “spiritual gifts” are given by the Holy Spirit.  Yes, spirituality comes from God alone.

            Throughout Paul’s ministry he showed concern for the spiritual welfare of the people to whom he was giving ministry.  For example, at the beginning of his letter to the church in Rome he writes, “ For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you – or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine” (Romans 1:11).

            In fact, in many of his letters particularly to the Saints in Corinth, Paul writes consistently about becoming a spiritual person (refer to 1 Cor. 2,3,9,10,12,14,and 15).

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul tells them because they have attained a level of spirituality they are called to bring special ministry to those who have fallen short in their lives.  He challenged them by saying, “My friends, you are spiritual.  So if someone is trapped in sin, you should gently lead that person back to the right path.” (Gal. 6:1)

            Our eyes are the lens in our bodies that allow us to see the beauty of the world around us.  Similarly we need a supernatural lens in the eyes of our hearts allowing us to see all that the Lord has done for us and planned for us and the power He has to offer us.  We need to see the power that Paul was describing to the Galatians that will support us in our ministries.

            Spiritual disciplines are important in becoming a spiritual person.  One writer has said: “Throughout the history of the church, believers have found that activities such as Bible memorization and meditation, fasting and prayer, solitude and study, celebration and worship, guidance and confession have helped them better see God and His truth.”

            Spiritual disciplines serve a purpose in our lives by keeping us orientated toward the Light, toward our power source.  We are encouraged to practice these disciplines for the intrinsic satisfaction they can give us.  We should remember these disciplines are not duties, laws, demands or requirements.  They are merely the conditions in which the joy of God is experienced.  Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit through searching, solitude and meditation assists us to develop these spiritual disciplines.

            Another area of spirituality is spiritual perception.  That is, tuning in to the messages God is sending us.  At times in our lives, God seems strangely absent, but the problem is not that God has disappeared.  We simply lack a “God” mindset.  When we develop our sensitivity, we soon begin to see his work everywhere.

            The apostle John suggests in John 6:63 that, “it is the Spirit that gives life.”  May we endeavour to live life to the fullest with God’s Spirit accompanying us on our personal journeys?

                                                                                                                        Bill Gillard

Evangelist Bill Gillard lives with his wife Betty at the foothills of the Blue Mountains, just outside of Sydney, NSW.

Puzzles

Over my Christmas break I wanted an activity that could be both mindful as well as satisfy my need to accomplish something. So, I found myself at the dining room table to conquer a 1000-piece puzzle. I chose one with many blurred colours of lights and some distinct lines of a freeway from the bird’s eye view. I wanted a puzzle that was a challenge; not too easy, but not too hard either.  

It has been about 4 years since I last did a puzzle, which also means previously I didn’t have children. The little helping hands of a 2yr old and almost 4yr old put the concept of a ‘not too hard’ puzzle into the ‘almost impossible’ category. From driving their toy cars through the neatly colour sorted pieces mixing them again, to putting pieces ‘in place’ and exclaiming “you’re welcome, Mum!” when it was nowhere near the right position. I knew I this activity was going to be harder than first anticipated. 

The border had been complete, first stage and easiest stage was done. I filled in some distinct clusters of colours and was now nearing towards the mid-way point. I was in struggle town, ready to walk away from it. Needing to leave it for a few days before even thinking about looking at it again when my husband reminded me, he wanted the dining table back sooner rather than later. I had to keep pushing through. I’m now at the two-thirds complete stage, the home stretch where you can make out the picture as a whole and have a real sense of which general area most pieces you pick up will go to after having studied it for so many days. I started thinking about finishing it and having to pack it up. A friend asked if I would frame it, to which my response was “no, I’m not that attached to it”. But would I leave it on the table to walk past and see my accomplishment for a week? Or would I pack it up after a day? An hour? Or even pack it up as soon as the last piece was placed? 

This sent me down a rabbit hole of what is my accomplishment worth. Wondering, did I do this just to show off my completed work? Why would I even bother beginning something that would end up right back in its box as if it had never been touched. It had me thinking I should slow down, continue enjoying the process again, because that would inevitably delay the packing up dilemma.  

Some days I have similar dilemmas with my church work. Since the pandemic began, I have questioned the worth and importance of what I do. How can what I am doing each day really make an impact if we can’t physically be together? There are youth now in year 9 who have never been able to attend a youth camp due to repeated cancelations caused by lockdowns. This event is so important in the life of our youth for helping them to develop relationships, find acceptance, feel supported and encouraged to question and explore. These are such important, formative years, for understanding who they are, where they fit in the world and where God fits in their lives. As Community of Christ Youth Minister, I haven’t been able to meet them yet, let alone developed rapport to provide any support. Each time I have thought we were nearing the end of Covid-19 another strain has knocked us back causing us to cancel camps, events and prevent travelling to people’s homes.  

Sharing all of this with my husband – yes, all spurred by eventually having to return the puzzle to its box– he reminded me of the monks who spend weeks creating giant mandalas out of sand, using multiple tools to create textures and shapes. At the end of creating their masterpiece they pray over it and begin sweeping it all up. As a symbol that everything is temporary, to bring awareness and meditation to something that is larger than their own small world. The monks give each person there a small handful of the sand which represents sublime possibility, then the rest is swept up and released into the nearest body of water to be carried away by the nearest stream.  

Was it all for nothing? Most certainly not.  The puzzle was everything I set for my holiday activity –mindfulness and a challenge all in one. My church work established good foundations and levels of trust with the youth and young adults before the pandemic that I know that every txt, snapchat, time I was asked to be a reference on their resume and every prayer I have said for these youth that I may not have been able to meet was making a difference in their lives. A mandala being wiped clean also means there is space for a new creation. Its been a week since I packed up my puzzle (the day after completing it) and already in that space we have created playdough, played hungry hippos, had family join us for meals, and played board games with friends.  

As we have just wiped 2021 away, I hope that 2022 can bring you a renewed sense of invigoration and zest in whatever you set out to achieve and may you take the time to see what new possibilities can happen where the old took place.  

Alicia Turner

Youth and Young Adult Minister, Australia Wide