Thoughts on Spirituality
Authentic spiritual wholeness, by its very nature, is open-ended.
It is always in the process of becoming, always incomplete.
--Gerald May, M.D.—Addiction and Grace
Dr. May’s observation paints such a helpful picture for us. On the one hand we long for completeness, for a finished product, for everything to be neatly tied together; on the other hand we need to realize that the journey through life is not a completed map.
As we develop, understand and accept the new things that come our way, we become healthier people. The more we do this, the more we realize the open-ended nature of spirituality. When we get to the point that this process is routine, life becomes one fabulous journey of “Amazing Grace.”
Authentic living—that is what we long for. Enjoy your day!!! And enjoy your week as you discover the many ways that the Holy One is gracing your journey.
A prayer for today: God of the journey, continue to grace my life and help me see the ways that you intend for me to mature. Amen.
Ben Keckler
05.12.08
Showing posts with label Spirituality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spirituality. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Daily Devotions - Wednesday, March 19
Journey of Awareness
“Answer me when I call, O God of my right!
Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.
I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
For you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety. ”
--Psalm 4: 1, 8
One of the great journeys, maybe the greatest journey, we make is the journey of awareness. Hundreds and hundreds of writers have penned words to help us make the journey. Today's verses tell us of a person who is able to sleep peacefully, who is able to feel safety. These qualities hint that there is a measure of self-acceptance, a measure of awareness.
Regularly, I receive e-mails here at work or on my home computer from friends voicing their reactions to this unstable world. Times like these push us to remember who and whose we are. A very helpful book for making the journey is James McMahon’s, Radical Self-Acceptance. The book pushes the reader to work on significant aspects of life so that the “finished product” radiates qualities of joy, compassion and peace.
I am discovering that when the surrounding culture is filled with chaos, it is important to journey inward. Inward is the one area where I do have some ability to grow/change/become. As I do this, I find myself in a deepening relationship with a big, big universe. When I have that feeling, I can sleep in peace and lie down in safety. Have a good, good day!
A prayer: God of my journey, empower me on my journey through difficult times. Amen.
Ben Keckler
03.19.08
“Answer me when I call, O God of my right!
Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.
I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
For you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety. ”
--Psalm 4: 1, 8
One of the great journeys, maybe the greatest journey, we make is the journey of awareness. Hundreds and hundreds of writers have penned words to help us make the journey. Today's verses tell us of a person who is able to sleep peacefully, who is able to feel safety. These qualities hint that there is a measure of self-acceptance, a measure of awareness.
Regularly, I receive e-mails here at work or on my home computer from friends voicing their reactions to this unstable world. Times like these push us to remember who and whose we are. A very helpful book for making the journey is James McMahon’s, Radical Self-Acceptance. The book pushes the reader to work on significant aspects of life so that the “finished product” radiates qualities of joy, compassion and peace.
I am discovering that when the surrounding culture is filled with chaos, it is important to journey inward. Inward is the one area where I do have some ability to grow/change/become. As I do this, I find myself in a deepening relationship with a big, big universe. When I have that feeling, I can sleep in peace and lie down in safety. Have a good, good day!
A prayer: God of my journey, empower me on my journey through difficult times. Amen.
Ben Keckler
03.19.08
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Daily Devotions - Wednesday, March 5
A Worthy Question
“Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?”
--Psalm 139: 7
The common theme within and among religions is spirituality. There is a common thread that does unite this global community. Obviously, weapons of mass destruction are not a common thread. Today the Psalm writer wrestles with the universality of Holy Presence by asking some critical questions.
Yesterday as I made rounds visiting with patients, I heard both patients and family members give me glowing reports about the tremendous care they were receiving. Each of us, regardless of occupation, continually could use a reminder: we can’t flee from the presence of the Divine. When we do take time to remember, we will develop a spirituality that allows people to experience a healing balm for their lives. We may not be able to stop the momentum of the global community, but each of us can do something important today—listen for and to the Divine.
A prayer for today: Holy God, remind me of my mortality and guide me in your paths. Amen.
Ben Keckler
03.05.08
“Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?”
--Psalm 139: 7
The common theme within and among religions is spirituality. There is a common thread that does unite this global community. Obviously, weapons of mass destruction are not a common thread. Today the Psalm writer wrestles with the universality of Holy Presence by asking some critical questions.
Yesterday as I made rounds visiting with patients, I heard both patients and family members give me glowing reports about the tremendous care they were receiving. Each of us, regardless of occupation, continually could use a reminder: we can’t flee from the presence of the Divine. When we do take time to remember, we will develop a spirituality that allows people to experience a healing balm for their lives. We may not be able to stop the momentum of the global community, but each of us can do something important today—listen for and to the Divine.
A prayer for today: Holy God, remind me of my mortality and guide me in your paths. Amen.
Ben Keckler
03.05.08
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