My Daily Spiritual Discipline
Posted 3 years, 6 months ago at 8:11 am. Add a comment
This most important thing I do for myself daily is study. While Christians of a more evangelical sort will argue that it’s not exactly what the baby Jesus had in mind–an amazing affirmation if you ask me, the hubris of which constantly surprises me–study was one of the most important disciplines of the ancient Hebrews, and is by extension the contemporary Christian’s journey as well.
The first psalm says, “Blessed is the man…” What follows is a classic description of study, one in which we’ll find Jews and Christians of all sorts and varieties engaged daily.
…”The law of the Lord is their joy. And in that instruction, they study day and night…”
What makes up the Law? The word translates nicely as “instruction.” And broadly speaking–even from an orthodox Christian perspective–we can find God’s instruction everywhere.
While I think there are other gifts or disciplines that may be equally, or at times even more, important–I’m thinking here of performing daily works of love and compassion, of meditation, of striving to do the most imaginative and outlandish when the least difficult or expected will do–a quiet time alone, with a book or two is the most important thing I do if the rest of what I’m need to do is going to be kind and constant.
Working with Jaudaun Eldridge
on the Skyline Church project
This is a part of my daily spiritual discipline of study. Constructed by a Roman Catholic clergyman, the site and its selections from a Latin lectionary keeps me in touch with the ebb and flow of scripture within the Christian church. I often use this site to prepare for our Faithspring meetings.
Another resource I appreciate–save the books in my library and the frequent trips to one of the most spiritual places in Portland, the local Barnes and Noble Bookstore–is constructed by Irish Jesuits. What’s happening to me, right? Not to worry, mother…
It occurs to me that if you walk a Christian path you might like to follow along to. (You may want to read from a more diverse selection of writing that I’ve consumed this year here.)
When I plug in my PDA phone in the mornings to update my calendar and get my daily Avantgo downloads–a half-dozen newspapers, some news and political sites, daily readings from Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and LDS sources, and some humor–I include this with it. When Sunday mornings come, you can sometimes hear my PDA ‘beeping’ in church, as I follow along the readings or read an alternative sermon.
So that’s what adults are doing in church! Sometimes I wonder…