We are now
in the season of Lent. Last Wednesday should
have marked with the imposition of ashes on our foreheads with the words,
“remember you are dust and to dust you shall return. Unfortunately Mother Nature did not cooperate
and we did not observe Ash Wednesday or Ash Thursday. Therefore today, in addition to being the
First Sunday in Lent will be Ash Sunday and we will mark it with the imposition
of ashes.
Lent is a
time to put into focus not only our mortality and all that that means, but also
our humanity. We are created in the
image of God and are called to live in a way that will explore and fulfill that
image. Lent is especially a time in
which we can focus on the renewal of our calling to answer that call from God
to become more fully a reflection of God incarnate—the image of God made
flesh. It is a time of spiritual
renewal.
One of the
great prophets of Spiritual Renewal is Henri Nouwen. He had a great connection with the L’Arch
Daybreak Community in Newmarket living there in the final years of his
life. In his book entitled Out of
Solitude Nouwen writes:
In
solitude we become aware that our worth is not the same as our usefulness. We
can learn much in this respect from the old tree in the Tao story about a
carpenter and his apprentice:
A
carpenter and his apprentice were walking together through a large forest. And
when they came across a tall, huge, gnarled, old, beautiful oak tree, the
carpenter asked his apprentice:
"Do
you know why this tree is so tall, so huge, so gnarled, so old and
beautiful?" The apprentice looked
at his master and said: "No . . . why?"
"Well,"
the carpenter said, "because it is useless. If it had been useful it would
have been cut long ago and made into tables and chairs, but because it is
useless it could grow so tall and so beautiful that you can sit in its shade
and relax."
Nouwen goes
on:
In
solitude we can grow old freely without being preoccupied with our usefulness
and we can offer a service which we had not planned on. To the degree that we
have lost our dependencies on this world, whatever world means--father, mother,
children, career, success or rewards--we can form a community of faith in which
there is little to defend but much to share. Because as a community of faith,
we take the world seriously but never too seriously. In such a community we can
adopt a little of the mentality of Pope John, who could laugh at himself. When
a highly decorated official asked him, "Holy father, how many people work
in the Vatican?" he paused a moment then replied, "Oh, about half of
them I suppose."
Spiritual
renewal is not just a personal calling; it is a special calling of the church
in the world today. It is a renewal that
is not is not based on action and activity in the outer world.
Our culture
is very good at that and the church also sees the need in our society and
responds by doing things to meet the needs which are there. However, there is another kind of renewal
which is unique to the church and is something that our society is very much in
need of—it is Spiritual Renewal.
One of my
callings is as a Spiritual Director. In
2014 I completed a Spiritual Direction program offered by the Haden Institute
and the Mount Carmel Centre in Niagara Falls.
In the program I learned how to help people discern where God is in
their lives and how to be more aware and open to where the Holy Spirit is
calling them. For the past three years I
have been working particularly with theology students at Huron University
College to accompany them on their journey with God.
The ministry
of Spiritual Direction is actual not the best name for what we do. The Spiritual Director does not actually
direct the directee. Rather a Spiritual
Director is a companion on the person’s spiritual journey. There are actually three persons in Spiritual
Direction—the Director, the Directee and the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who does the direction
and shows both the Director and Directee the way in which God is working in
their life.
During the
Sunday’s in Lent, I propose being the Spiritual Companion for St. Anne’s and
St. John’s. Each week we will explore a
different way in which we can learn to pay closer attention to how God is
working in our lives and where The Holy Spirit is calling us to travel in this
Lenten journey which lies ahead of us.
It is also my hope that you will find some of these ways to be
meaningful for you and that you will chose to incorporate one or two of them into
your lives on an ongoing basis.
I will close
with the prayer I use to begin a Spiritual Direction meeting.
Celtic
Prayer for Spiritual Direction (Adapted)
Bless this time, in the name of the Three who are over
us.
Bless this time, in the name of the One who guides us.
Open our eyes to see how our lives
Can reflect something of You.
Aid us in understanding Your will
With our hearts as well as our minds
Give us the wisdom to discern Your intention for us;
The strength to follow the path You prepare for us;
And Your comfort on the journey You offer to us.
Amen
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