Dry Heave Spirituality

I was at a church board meeting the other night. What's worse, I led it (I'll tell you what that means in a moment). Here's a circle of busy, competent people, who, because they are busy and competent get asked to do just about everything. And as churches do (and just about every other volunteer organization), we found ways of asking them to do more. We needed a few volunteers for another task force, and few others for a weekend volunteer activity. Those that didn't dive into their calendars to try to find some legitimate way to say "no" simple stared at the papers in front of them.

They are all good people who want our congregation to do good things and know that requires involvement. When they have to say "no" they feel guilty. When they say "yes" they feel the draining weight of yet one more thing to attend.

This creates what I call "dry heave spirituality."

Not a pretty term, I know. But maybe it's shock value will awaken us to what we do to ourselves...to each other.

And here's what I meant by "what's worse, I led it." There comes a point when someone's got to say "enough." It would be nice if leaders like me could recognize in others the tell-tale signs of "dry heave spirituality". But we get blinded by the needs of an organization that require human resources.

Learning to speak a good "no" or "yes" means learning to stay near the center spiritually so that you and I know in our guts when we simply can't do another thing because to do it would violate something sacred within us. When we choose to act from the center there's a wholly/holy different experience.

This takes poise. Internal clarity. Conviction. Courage. We must breath. Seriously. By breathing, we slow down and come back into our bodies, aware of what's going on inside. And our breathing becomes a prayer that unites us with God who's within each of us.

It takes this kind of attentiveness to our lives from the inside-out so we can learn to sense when we're getting spiritually sick.

This kind of awareness can empower:

1. us to say "no" when we must not say "yes"

2. us to say "yes" when we can do so with wind at our backs

3. us who, like me, lead organizations to look out and see signs of dry heave spirituality in others even if they can't recognize it yet themselves.

The Ecstatic Faith of Rumi

Following up on yesterday's post about Samir Selmanovic’s new book, "It's All About God" What can we learn from those who pray from within another tradition?  How do the mystics transcend the God-boxes of religion, while living fully and freely and unashamedly from within their traditions?

The 13th-century-Persian-Sufi-mystic (jeez, too many adjectives!), Rumi, is one of those.

Here's one who can help us transcend the resurgent religious wars of this 21st century.  And here's a podcast interview between Speaking of Faith's Krista Tippet and  Dr. Fatemeh Keshavarz.  A delightful romp with Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī as professor Keshavarz explores the way Rumi improvises on the Islamic tradition in ways that transcends the divisions of today's world.

Click here for the podcast.  The site includes reading and a video performance of Rumi's poetry.

Awaken

Greet the dawn as God's holy gift;awaken to the light within. Tend the inner flame of love; for God will give the sacred spark when you unite mind, body, heart.

It's All About God

Ryan Bell's posted an introduction to the new and important book.  Samir Selmanovic's "It's All About God." The conviction that undergirds this site is that the life of prayer, spirituality, is all about God.  Prayer, as our essential relationship with God, transcends religion.  It must if it is to contact God.  I wonder if Samir is one of the emerging voices at this crucial hinge in history who can help us past the apparent impasse of religion and into the Mystery known as God.  So, I also wonder if  Samir's vision might help us foster a fuller spirituality. From the dust jacket: “Samir has written a book that reads like an extended poem; an ode to life. Where others see only the darkness and destructiveness of religion, Samir sees beauty and hope. Where others see only competition and violence, Samir sees synergy and life. And his vision is no simple syncretism; a blending of all religions into one inoffensive ‘smoothie’ of goodness and light. This book is a celebration of postmodern ‘otherness’ of the first order."

I also wonder about the relationship between religion and spirituality.  On the one hand, without the way religions render God to us--the language, ritual, order--what do we really have of God?  And yet, doesn't religion too often box God up too tightly?  Don't the defenders of a particular religion's God too often exclude the other, make the other into an object, a target, and tragically a victim of religious zeal?

Watch Samir talk about his new book, his remarkable journey among the religions, and his vision for our future as religious people seeking God.  Does it hint at the way forward for us?

Improvise on These Five Ways and Find Time for Prayer

Much of my life I've felt simply too busy to pray.  I crave God, and know that periods of stillness before God are essential for developing the intimacy that is life giving.  But--and here's the rub--there's just too much to do. Over the last few years I've shifted.  It's not that making time for prayer is easy; it's still a struggle.  But I've reframed the way I view what I do.  Desperation (as I've written about before) is a marvelous motivator.  Desperation forced me to change my diet and habits half a dozen years ago when my health dropped through the floor.  And part of that change meant a shift in my daily practices.  Prayer--contemplative stillness before the Source of All--is simply not an option.  It is life.  To be driven along in the garbage and clutter of a chaotic life was never appealing, but I felt powerless against it.

Here's a link to a great article that offers five ways to carve out time for renovating a chaotic life and making time for exercise.

Yeah, make those changes--stubbornly, doggedly--and live better.  But I can't help but wonder what transformations we'd know if we got exercised about the sacred and made similar changes so we could plop down before the Holy for awhile each day.   I think our life depends on it.

Whether it's because we're unorganized, unmotivated, or simply over-tasked, we’re all too busy. If I were to ask you to dedicate an extra hour each day for something, you'd laugh and call me crazy. However, what if I asked for a fraction of that? What if I wanted 30 minutes of your day and promised that the time investment would actually increase your productivity each day? Not only that, but you'd potentially live longer, perhaps be happier, and definitely have more energy.

That doesn't sound like a bad deal. A little prep work, a small time investment, and loads of new attitudes and productivity gains. Where is the catch?

Those who think they have no time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.

Many today are finding that the body and soul were never meant to be disconnected.  Joining exercise and prayer is the path not only to healing, but to better attitudes and greater productivity.  But we will have to choose to make changes and swim against the stream.