Bend First Presbyterian Church

School starts this week. September says farewell to the lazy days of summer, and beckons toward beginning something new, for many, a new adventure in learning. Do you remember your first day of school? How you felt? What you experienced? Children face the first day of school with mixed feelings, especially if they are entering a new school. The prospect of everything new — place, people, friends, teachers, transportation — can be daunting. Children returning to school may be excited to see friends again, even if the teacher may be new. Children and parents take time to prepare for school, perhaps shopping or filling a backpack with necessary items.

All of us, whatever our age, can begin the Fall season with anticipation about learning. Students prepare to begin classes, perhaps buying books, or registering for an online class. Classes abound at traditional sites and also in the community where one can pursue a new hobby or skill. There are countless opportunities to continue learning about the world and ourselves, and none as transforming as the “classroom” of the spiritual journey. What would you like to learn and discover in your spiritual life? Is there a practice or discipline that you would like to begin this Fall?

Some people have been aware of the spiritual journey for years, while others are just awakening to the adventure. Wherever we are in our spiritual lives, there is always more to discover. Teresa of Avila wrote, “No soul on this road is such a giant that it does not often need to become a child at the breast again . . . for there is no state of prayers, however sublime, in which it is not necessary often to go back to the beginning.”

One life-giving practice is reading the Bible, not just skimming it. Consider reading one of the gospels, taking a portion each day, and reading it slowly, thoughtfully, prayerfully, and pondering it through the day. Rather than settling for FaceBook’s “Jesus Daily,” go deeper yourself into the resources of Christian faith. Consider reading a psalm each day. Psalm 4 gives a wonderful suggestion to practice at the end of each day: “I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.” Before falling asleep, review your day, noting both the joys and struggles, and lay it all down outside the door of the day, and rest in God’s presence.

Summer is the season for exploring wilderness, taking time to venture into natural beauty often on foot, carrying supplies for a day or longer.  Such ventures require careful planning, even if the trip includes pack animals.  Our nephew is preparing for a hike with his Dad and Granddad, and has been setting aside all kinds of things he would like to take along in his backpack.  When departure day comes, many of those things will have to be left behind.

This summer season is the context for continuing our spiritual journeys, wherever we are.    Our spiritual journeys continue, one day at a time, as the Spirit of God calls us to live in love and trust.  When Jesus called his disciples and sent them out, he instructed them to take nothing for their journeys, but to trust in provision along the way among the communities they would visit (see Matthew 10.1-15).  Why?  Perhaps Jesus intended for his followers to keep their minds, hearts, and hands free for the task of sharing Good News.

This story presents a metaphor to ponder about our spiritual journeys, not that we would be medicants, but that we would consider what we usually take along on a trip, or in our daily lives, for security.  I feel good when I have a credit card, a car without problems, loved ones thinking of me, prayer partners and friends,  a loving church family, good health, and books to read.  Am I willing to set these good things aside as sources of security, and see them instead as blessings held in open hands?  What are those elements in your life that create a sense of well-being?  What helps you to feel secure?

Jesus calls us to more than “feeling good.”  Jesus calls us to base our security in who we are in God’s creation, called to love from the endless resource of God’s love within.  Jesus calls us to remember Whose we are.  Jesus calls us to walk ahead in trust.  Life will present challenges in time when “feeling good” will not describe the journey, but the resources of God’s presence and endless love will always remain, to be trusted then as in the present.

Today, one of those perfect late Spring moments of sunny warmth wrapping around the day, reminds me of the Spirit of God enveloping us in Divine Love.  Sunday we celebrated Pentecost, fifty days after Easter, described in the book of Acts rushing into the gathered faithful waiting for something new.  Sunday’s worship was joyful in connecting us with the historic roots of the day of Pentecost, showing us the universality of God’s love and the mutual understanding that grows in the bond of the Spirit.

Now, a few days later, signs of the Spirit abound, to be seen with open eyes and open hearts.  The blessings of God’s love are countless . . . beauty all around, senses to receive intricate details of life, hearts to sing God’s praises, feet to carry us to places of need, hands to prepare homes and food, family and friends with whom to share our days.  What do you notice as you look around?  As you reflect on your relationships?  As you ponder your calling in life and the work before you in this day?  As you are drawn to places of need or pain?  Pause in this moment, breathe in the Breath of Life, give thanks to God, the Creator and Lord of all.

April signals Spring — finally!  Now we look around and see signs of new growth every day.  In this season of Lent, three more weeks provide the opportunity to reflect on Jesus and his journey to the cross.  It’s tempting to look ahead to April 24, Easter Sunday, celebrating the resurrection of Christ.  Yet let’s not hurry through Lent and miss reflecting on the way Jesus spent his last weeks.  He continued at an unhurried pace, noticing others, responding to needs, inviting people into wholeness and hope.  He knew what was coming, yet “for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross” (Hebrews 12.2).  We too know that Lent will be over soon, and we can turn to happier things.   Every day, each moment, the Holy Spirit helps us to endure and move through difficulties, knowing that new life is possible in whatever painful situations we are in.  Let us continue on in our journeys, following the One whose promise is life.  The Risen One gives us hope to endure and hope for our prayers for others and for the world.

March is a month for breathing in the beginnings of Spring, for looking around to see occasional crocus peeking up, for standing straighter without the weight of a heavy jacket, and for leaving the snow shovel in the garage. As the creation begins to awaken from winter, so we are invited to enter a new season in our spiritual lives. The psalmist invites us to “Return, O my soul, to your rest” (Psalm 116.7). This returning is a daily practice, a moment by moment practice, connecting us with the endless Source of divine love.

Saturday, March 19, offers us an opportunity to rest in God and to renew our connection to the Spirit through centering prayer. A Taste of Silence is a mini-retreat with times of centering prayer, sharing, and instruction for those new to this prayer. Centering Prayer is an ancient practice being discovered anew by people the world over. Call the church (541.382.4401) for more information about this free mini-retreat.

DAILY BREAD FOR THE SOUL

Just as we need and enjoy regular meals to keep our strength up for the usual joys and challenges of daily life, so we benefit from daily spiritual food for our souls. Here are some websites that offer regular brief mailings to read and ponder. It takes just a few minutes to read one, perhaps save it, and ponder it through the day.

You might need to “subscribe” to see a sample of the devotional reading, but if it doesn’t appeal to you, you can immediately “unsubscribe.”

• http://www.pcusa.org/devotions — daily scripture readings from the lectionary contribute to our appreciation for scripture, and can be read according to the time and interest you have.
• http://www.cacradicalgrace.org — daily reflections by Richard Rohr on the spiritual journey
• http://www.familychristian.com/devotions/ — you’ll see an example from wisdomhuntersdevotional.com — regular reflections based on a verse or brief passage of scripture
• http://www.inwardoutward.org — regular readings from the Church of the Savior in Washington, D. C.
• http://www.sojo.net — subcribe to “Verse & Voice” for regular reflections from Sojourners including scripture, quote, prayer, and comment
• http://www.henrinouwen.org/home/free_letters — this site provides daily readings from Henri Nouwen’s “Bread for the Journey”
• http://www.upperroom.org/daily — a daily reading of scripture with prayer and reflection
• http://www.upperroom.org/devotional — online version of the booklets you’ll find at the Welcome Center

If you have other online sites to suggest, please let any one of us on the Spiritual Journey Resource Team know!

Summer blessings,The Spiritual Journey Resource Team(Steven Koski, Lynda Hathorn, David Starkweather, Rock Klein, Leslie Stednitz, Brigitte Dysart, Lorraine Stuart, session liasons Tim Conlon & Sue Nell Phillips)

The “spiritual journey” sounds like a long trek . . . can I make it? It’s the journey of a lifetime, but experienced just one day at a time, one moment at a time. The way my life is today describes my spiritual journey. If I’m not aware of it today, when will I wake up?

God provides me so many opportunities to welcome the Spirit . . . watching the “birds of the air” outside our window, and the one bluebird sitting on the fence (Matthew 6.26). Archie, our dog, teaches me life lessons on each day’s walk. His curiosity uncovers treasures and connections to his kin who passed by this same route. His eventual obedient response to my tug keeps him close and safe. His adoring gaze brings smiles and petting.

Earth Day reminds me of the gift of the earth and the gift of senses to appreciate and care for it. Martin Luther wrote, “Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not only in books, but in every leaf of Springtime.” Thanks be to God for the little priceless joys in this day of life.

John 13:14-15

“A new command I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

On p. 230 of The Hole in Our Gospel, Richard Stearns explores the do’s and don’ts of our faith and suggests that Jesus changed the world by what he did, by what he affirmed, more than by what he did not do or by what he condemned. And yet, I have associated the time of Lent more as a time of “do nots,” a time of sacrifice and giving up, than as a time of “do’s,”. “Do not eat meat. Do not eat chocolate. Do not watch T.V. Do not indulge your bodily lusts. Do not bow down to Evil. Do not test the Lord your God.” Even as I wrote this list, I found myself getting smaller, closing in, crawling into some kind of box, and resenting those who continue to do those things I’ve decided to give up. And yet, as I reflected on the things that Jesus calls us to do: to heal, forgive, love (even my neighbor next door as well as my enemies,) to touch, to stand up and stand for and fight for justice, to dine with, to challenge, to demonstrate greatness in serving…I realize that these probably require greater sacrifice and call forth my greater humanity. I must give up my fears, my self-righteousness, my judgment, my reputation. The do’s lead me to open-handedness, to a generosity of spirit and wallet, to creativity, to freedom from anger and resentment, (as delightful as those can be at times,) from pride, sloth, and apathy. My whole body and spirit become alive as I consider the possibilities of do’s: how will I forgive my deceased mother? How will I bring the woman on the corner with her two children asking for hand-outs, again, into my circle of friends? How can I seek first God’s kingdom as I try to plan for my retirement? How can I have a helpful conversation with that person who votes differently, who prays differently, who doesn’t vote or pray at all? Stearns asserts that the world finds the “do’s” of Jesus very attractive and that we, like Jesus, can change the world today if we focus on doing as Jesus did.

As the season of Lent unfolds, I find myself frequently practicing one of the spiritual disciplines that was shared with the Confirmation group on Sunday. The disciplines are ways to place ourselves in God’s presence so that we are blessed with discovering that relationship of Love already initiated by God. The idea is to use our breath, the most essential aspect of being alive. As we breathe in, we focus on a name or symbol for God significant to us. As we breathe out, we respond with a word — a synonym, a plea, a praise. An example comes from the final prayer of the Bible at the end of the Revelation: “Lord Jesus . . . come.” Each person will discover the breath prayer that best fits for one’s own experience of God.

Lent is an opportunity for becoming more aware of God’s constant presence, moment by moment, breath by breath. I give thanks for this special season and for Jesus whose life revealed God’s compassion fully in everyday life.

As companions on the way, we encourage one another in every season through conversation, calls, messages, and posts. You are invited to share your insights that God is giving you about the spiritual journey. It may be an experience, a scripture passage meaningful to you, or something you’ve read or heard that has strengthened your faith and connection with God and others. Reflections about your spiritual journey will be a gift to others and help create a mosaic of praise as we see the many ways the Spirit is moving among us.