Faith in Process: Creating a Life in God

“The main thing is to have God; to live in God; to have God live in us; to think God’s thoughts; to love what God loves and hate what God hates; to realize God’s presence; to feel God’s holiness and to be holy because God is holy; to feel God’s goodness in every blessing of your life and even in its tribulations; to be happy and trustful; to join in the great purposes of God and to be lifted to greatness of vision and faith and hope with God – that is the blessed life.” – Walter Rauschenbusch, The Culture of the Spiritual Life, 1897

If we want a faith experience like Jesus, we need to follow his lead, to learn and include his rhythms into our lives.  The “salvation” he offered was a whole and lasting life, one filled with abundance of love, joy, peace, meaning, wellbeing, genuine relationships, significance – the things most people really want from life that money cannot buy.  Jesus’ earliest followers followed his teaching and example so fully that they were first known as the People of the Way.  Oh, that we might be known for that once more!

Jesus incorporated five movements into his life which produced the fruit of the whole-life salvation/well-being/spiritual vitality he was known for.  He chose to stretch his thinking (lifelong learning), kneel in service to others, stand for grace and justice, commune with God intentionally, and connect with others in genuine community.  Cultivate these movements into your life rhythm to foster the fruit of life in God.

Stretch. How are you incorporating new insights about God into your life?  If you don’t make an effort to stretch in this area, it is likely that the faith you were born into will be the faith you take to your grave.  How tragic would that be? Invest in your theological perspective.  Check out our resources on CrossWalk’s website (CrossWalkNapa.org/Resources) for recommended books, podcasts, and online sources.  Make a plan for when you are going to read.  Get in on the Heart of Christianity class based on Marcus Borg’s book by the same name.  Take it again every few years. In my opinion, it is the most comprehensive book that helps with deconstruction and reconstruction of the faith.

Kneel.  We all have different capacities when it comes to serving others.  Our skills and passions vary to a person.  Our availability often is dictated by our stage of life and a wide range of issues like work, health, parenting, school, sports, an important TV shows we must stream or risk social ostracization (okay, the last one may not be true for everyone). Yet kneeling in service is as much a way of being in life as it is something to be accomplished or ticked off a task list.  When we carry an attitude of loving our neighbors wherever we go, life improves.  We look at everyone a little differently.  I believe that when we enter the world this way, we affect those we are around.  We become walking air fresheners wherever we go.  Of course, many of us have time and ability to serve.  Let CrossWalk know what your skills and interests are (if you haven’t already) and we will try to find a match.  There are also a lot of great organizations in our community that could also use volunteer support.  Check out VolunteerNow.org and find out how you can make a difference!

Stand.  We have neighbors in our community who have been told they are “less than”. They have been shamed. They have been “othered.”  They could use someone like you to proclaim a greater truth, that they are deeply loved as they are and are inherently worthy of abundant life.  You might get to be that person who makes another’s day that leads to a much better life, simply be speaking grace to those who need it.  Other neighbors face inequality, inequity, and are not included in decisions that impact their lives.  There are many issues and causes to champion, and often not enough time or resources to address them all.  Yet we can all do something.  Here are some things to consider:

·       Automate!  For the organizations you support financially, set up automatic contributions.  It takes it off your to-do list, and you’ll know you are supporting something you care about every month.  As an organization that offers scheduled donations, CrossWalk benefits from the consistency every month – thank you to all who have already automated!

·       Subscribe! For the organizations and issues near and dear to you, subscribe to their newsletters so you are kept up to speed on what’s happening and how you might get involved.  Here are some you might be interested in: Environment, Global Poverty, LGBTQ+,   Anti-Racism, Immigration Reform, Gun Violence, Human Trafficking, Food Insecurity, Women’s Rights.

·       Write! Know who represents you and contact them about issues you care about!  Use SmartVote.org to get started.

·       Gather! Keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities to peacefully assemble and let your voice be heard.

Commune.  Jesus regularly and intentionally spent time in solitude and silence for contemplation, meditation, and prayer.  When we begin our day with this practice, the likelihood of staying in the zone for the rest of the day rises significantly.  Here are some tips to help your daily commune work.

·       Protect the time and space. If possible, keep this time consistent.  It is difficult to pull off with interruptions. Choose a peaceful, tranquil space.

·       Swap “obligation” for “invitation.” When this daily exercise becomes a should, do whatever you have to do to get your head on straight, otherwise it won’t be of much worth.

·       Check in with yourself. Be aware of how you are feeling as you begin. Be honest with yourself. Your fake smile means nothing to God if your heart is breaking.

·       Spend “more” time on breath work.  Just do it.  Americans suck at being still and quiet.  You’ll be glad you did.

·       Incorporate devotional reading. Carefully choose a voice to invite into your head to guide and shape your thoughts.  The Center for Action and Contemplation offers a daily email that has helped hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Sign up!

·       Journal your thoughts and gratitude. Writing down our thoughts and gratitude is much more potent than thinking them.  Prove me wrong.

·       Transition with a benediction. Wrap your daily commune with a prayer to help you take your faith into your whole day.  Here are two from Rich Orloff – one to begin your time and the other to finish (or however you want to use them):

Daily Prayer

Thank you for this day
May I be aware of all of its blessings
May I notice each moment of love
May I appreciate each breath
May I see beyond my fears
May I recognize beauty
May I receive each molecule of joy offered
May I absorb kindness
May I not sabotage the happiness of myself or others

For the blessings of this day
I give thanks in advance
Today is an opportunity to experience
The miracle of every moment

Evening Prayer

May I recognize the blessings of this day
And of my life

May I absorb the blessings of this day
And of my life

May I always have access to the wisdom gained today
And use these blessings tomorrow

As I share my blessings with others
One love at a time
Till love blossoms into a field of joy
Covering the earth

Connect.  We need each other.  We are hardwired for community. We are interconnected and influence each other all the time – we may as well make the most of it!  Connecting with others increases our collective wisdom as we share our experiences with each other, especially when we invite different perspectives into the conversation.  Community can be incredibly helpful as we undergo unavoidable changes in life.  Community helps shape and support the ethics we live by – we are stronger in our resolve when we are together.  Connecting in a spiritual community especially help us learn to identify the nudge of the Divine in our lives and serves as a sounding board for discernment on what it might mean.   We also grow more as human beings when we are together, which is a key component of the abundant life Jesus’s Way offers.  How are you intentionally connecting with others?

Questions...

1.         Stretch. What am I going to read, watch, or listen to, to strengthen my faith over the coming months?

2.         Kneel. How am I going to kneel in service to others?

3.         Stand. How am I extending grace and supporting justice with my life?

4.         Commune. When am I incorporating quiet space to meditate, contemplate, and pray?

5.         Connect. How am I intentionally engaging others in community?