Simply put, ‘found’ spirituality amounts to a promise: I will pay attention to the spiritual bounty that the Lord sets before me — and make an effort to share that Good News with others.
I stumbled upon ‘found’ spirituality during my Lenten journey in 2013. I’ve been writing professionally for more than 30 years, almost exclusively in commercial / corporate realms. And throughout that time, my off-hours have been blessed with an abundance of connections to spiritual resources — close encounters on retreats, catechetical programs, small faith-sharing groups, soul-stirring liturgies, talented writers, not to mention great friends and soul-mates.
Until Lent 2013, though, I struggled to integrate those elements of my life — to turn the spiritual bounty I’d been given into fodder for writing about things that really mattered…things that could, perhaps, stir the soul.
My will, it turns out, tended to poison the well just a bit. My ego often got in the way of what I wanted to be able to write. A better approach, I’ve discovered, is to wait for nudges from the Holy Spirit. To submit, surrender…allow my heart to be moved. This process began as a Lenten almsgiving in 2013 — in a blog called Steadfast Spirit. It grew into something I can only describe as a joy: Is today the day that another gift will arrive? What spiritual bounty will the Lord set before me next?
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Great stuff John! It’s amazing the differences in listening to someone vs. reading the same thing. Everyone learns or listens or perceives or reacts to differences like these two in their own way, in their own time, in that moment. It’s the awareness we must be open to when God calls us to observe, to listen, to learn, to empathize, sympathize, or be compassionate toward. While some learn best by seeing (visual), or hearing (auditory), or doing hands on (kinesthetic), it’s being aware what works for you at that moment.
Last night I was telling someone that being aware of 1st, what God wants you to do, and 2nd what you want to do or are good at, and third what the compensation is for that, in that order of importance is critical to realize sooner than later in life.
Some are gifted and get opportunity or are in the right circumstances or take advantage of these things, while others never find them.
I still strive to try to live out Seek 1st to understand (which can take a lifetime or more, as evidenced by the Churches doctrine and dogma and traditions and changing spirituality over millennium as one example, so how could one person possibly think they know enough in one lifetime, no less a short one, of 33 years, unless they truly were of God).
Then and only then can they seek to be understood.
HAPPY TRIDUUM & HAPPY EASTER TO ALL,
HE IS RISEN AND IS ALIVE TODAY, (implanted on everyone’s hearts from the moment of conception by God Himself, whether realized or not… it doesn’t matter…until that reality sets in, then you’ll never be the same again…Goodbye old self, Hello new life, one living for God).
Peace,
Ben Verhagen
Yes, as they say in “The Chosen,” Get used to different… 😇