However, I’d already amassed quite a fortune of spiritual insights. I’d been in church since childhood, attended countless retreats and seminars, and actively participated in the student faith community on my campus. The crucial question was not, What new thing can God teach me today? but Have I integrated and applied what I’ve learned so far?We don’t need to look for new and innovative spiritual practices this summer. Spiritually speaking, it’s broad daylight, and right in front of us, every day, we see the truth of what we need to do.
- It would be nice to learn a specific kind of contemplative prayer, but do I bother to pray—with intent and openness—the Our Father, at least once a day?
- Perhaps there’s a future for me as a spiritual director, but am I listening with great love and attentiveness to the colleague who is in my office this hour?
- It might be truly gratifying to take this course on the New Testament, but have I read and meditated on the Scripture readings for Mass this week?
Pretend that your life has been in shadow for the past week. And yet today you wake up, and the room is full of light, and you walk outdoors and can see everything clearly.
What do you see? What is God asking you to do—what need or opportunity is right in front of you?
What spiritual practice has been here with you all along but you forgot it or neglected it?