Practice, Practice, Practice

We all know that getting good - or even just feeling competent in anything takes practice. Spirituality is no different. Our relationship with God is like any other relationship. We must spend time together to get to know one another and learn to trust and then rely on one another. But who has time?

As a young professional with young children, Sunday morning worship and occasional Bible studies or classes at church were the only times I spent regularly with God. The rest of my life was an over-scheduled blur of activity. It wasn’t until a particularly stressful time at a difficult job in a dysfunctional office with an emotionally unhealthy boss that something had to give.

It was at this time that I was sent to another state to attend a professional conference. I found myself with a little time on my hands before the conference began, so I drove to a nearby church not really knowing why - only sensing a deep need. Once there, I fell on my knees and asked God to show me a way forward.

The Spirit suggested that I open the Bible in the pew, so I did. There I found Jeremiah 29: 11-14:

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

I was deeply moved by this. I realized that God could actually offer more than moral teachings and moving worship experiences. Here I saw God offering to bring me out of the emotional exile I hadn’t even realized I was trapped in.

I didn’t know what to do with my new realization, so I prayed. I cried out, “Show me what to do God! “ I heard nothing, so I started walking around the streets near the church. Wandering through a small shop with art from local artisans, I found some simple rosaries. My heart lurched so I bought one even though I hadn’t said the rosary since I was a child at a Catholic church. I didn’t even remember the words to the Hail Mary, but I bought it anyway and learned to pray it once again.

Back at the hotel I opened the King James Bible in the drawer and looked up the verse that captured me earlier. I decided to keep that Bible and start reading it myself for the first time in my life. I brought it to work with me and began reading it in my car while eating lunch. Thus began my first real spiritual practice.