Practicing the Practices at home

 

     During the last weeks, many spiritual disciplines were discussed and experienced in Sunday School, worship, and the Lenten Blogs. God created us as such unique and complex individuals that there are a multitude of ways God draws near to us and we draw nearer to God -- centering prayer, Labyrinth, journal, retreat, solitude, dance, create/listen to music, meditate, silence, enjoy nature, make/enjoy art, express gratitude, fast, unplug, simple life, worship, read the Bible, advocate, Lectio Divina, prayer beads, chant, garden, sacraments, confession, fellowship, celebrate, exercise, rest, listen to a friend, give, reflect, write a letter, and tell about God.

     This last week gives us time to try a new spiritual discipline. For young children many of the disciplines are new, so trying a new one is not challenging. When working with children adults need to keep two approaches in mind:  value the worth of each discipline and remember that at different ages children will feel comfortable using different disciplines. I remember as a young child drawing pictures of Bible stories. In early elementary, I loved playing Sunday school by telling someone else a Bible story. By later elementary school and middle school, I came closer to God by talking to my friends about their spiritual practices, even worshiping at their church or synagogue, and them worshiping with me at my church. By high school, daily prayer was meaningful. During college, daily Bible reading was what kept me going. In my adult years, I have come to respect all disciplines and had times when each was meaningful.

     If we value all disciplines and help children explore them all, they will be able to communicate better with individuals from different practices. “I use prayer beads you might use a rosary.” Recognizing that developing faith requires different disciplines at different stages is supportive of the child, giving them the freedom to meet God in their own way. What becomes a danger is when a child is told they must pray a certain way or that there is only one discipline to draw near to God. Then when that discipline is not working, they have nothing else to use and fall away from God.

     Dear God,

        There are many ways to get to know you.

        There are many ways you share yourself with me.

        Help me to use those ways to draw close to you.

        Help me to use those ways to draw close to others.

     Amen. 

Christian Education Director Lynne Pabst