The beginning...a spiritual toolbox

I'm beginning this journey because I have a hunch that the practices I have learned are important for a life lived in faith. My intention is to live a simple life of faith, but it is complicated by work and other distractions so often that I sometimes feel like I am being nibbled to death by guppies. Not a feeling I like, desire or would recommend! The origins of the faithful life I mean to live come through this scripture: "This is what the Lord says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.'" (Jeremiah 6:16) As I have lived with this scripture for the past year or so, I am struck with these words: stand, ask, walk, find - all action words. In essence, we are told to do something in order to find rest. In the doing, we will find the rest we seek. I hold that scripture in tension with Matthew 11:28,29: "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Again, in the doing, we will find rest. So what exactly are we called to do?

The good news? There is an overwhelming amount of rest that is available to us. I have traveled through many of life's challenges as I am sure you have. In fact, I have just come through (or am still coming through) one of life's hard times, a life defining time. And yet, I have still managed to work, to do school work, and to maintain many of my relationships and even some of my hobbies. One of the reasons I have been able to come through this time centers around the fact that I have leavned to weave certain monastic practices into my life. This is all pretty funny since I am not of the monastic tradition, and I am certainly not a saint! Two saints who have been instrumental in shaping this protion of my life are Benedict and Ignatius - more about them later. Suffice it to say, these spiritual practices have made a change in the nuts and bolts of my everyday life.

I'd like to invite you to travel this journey with me for the next month as I gather data for my DMin (Doctor of Ministry) project. If you are willing, I ask you to reflect on the following questions as we begin and then again at the end of the month. Psychologists tell us it takes 21 days to develop a habit. My prayer is that the next month will afford you the time to build some new routines and rituals into the rhythm of your life. You may post your answers on this blog, or you may send me an email (ellenshep@gmail.com). Thank you for being part of the Journey with me.

1. Do you have any regular spiritual practices? If so, please share them.
2. Would you be willing to spend time each morning and evening focused on developing a spiritual toolbox? How much time?
3. Do you desire a deeper prayer life?
4. What do you want your daily life in God to be shaped like? In other words, what do you want your life in God to look like/feel like?
5. What prevents your living your life like you want or you intend?
6. Is there anything else that would be helpful for me to know?