Monastic Strategies: Spiritual Life Walks in the World

Spiritual Life Walks in the World

It is a challenge for us to recognize how spiritual life walks in the world around us.

Some of us like to think spiritual life ought to walk softly and carry a big stick. Others of us would like spiritual life to take bigger steps, to have more of an impact and leave deeper footprints.

We may cringe when people ask us about spiritual life walking in the world. There are people from whom we would like to dissociate ourselves. We hope we are not confused with people who seem to be trying to force their understanding of spiritual life onto others.

Some people believe spiritual life is all about finding answers and convincing other people our answers are the right ones.

My experience of spiritual life has been different.

For me, growing into spiritual life has been about setting aside answers I thought I had found. My appreciation of spiritual life grows as I continue to realize asking good questions is more significant than finding the right answers.

I believe spiritual life walks in the world when we question what we think we know and listen to hear spiritual life.

Spiritual life walks in the world on our feet, in our shoes.

The time we spend thinking and analyzing, sorting and organizing our way through challenging questions is preparation. Our responsibility is to put reflection and contemplation into action.

Spiritual life lives and acts within us and, through us, in the world around us. Our actions, the ways we respond, demonstrate the power of what we believe.

How do we respond when we encounter fear or sorrow, hunger or loneliness, pain or anger in the people around us? Are we paying attention, do we even notice?

What are we doing to spread spiritual life in the world?

How Spiritual Life Walks in the World

I believe spiritual life walks in the world as we put what we believe into practice in everyday life.

Some of us have not seriously thought about what we believe and what we value. It is particularly difficult for us to put our values into practice when we do not know what they are.

We need to take time to reflect, to consider what we believe and what we are willing to spend our lives doing. Our first step is contemplation of what actually matters to us.

It is not as if we have a checklist and can mark off contemplation when we have completed it. Our reflection is an ongoing responsibility, a lifetime project which will last the rest of our lives.

We can begin to practice our values and principles as we start to gain a clearer perspective on what they are.

If we value justice, how can we make it part of our everyday lives? If mercy, or learning, or openness, or a sense of humor is what we value, how can we share them with people, including ourselves?

Spiritual life walks in the world as we actively put our values into practice. What would it be like if everyone who said they valued justice acted with justice each day?

We are not simply looking for a list of policies or programs to support. Spiritual life walks in the world as we begin to practice what we value in everyday life.

Practicing what we value does not mean we will always agree. Each of us is responsible to discern our own values and how we put them into practice.

We talk and listen, sharing our values with the people in the world around us. Spiritual life walks in the world.

When Spiritual Life Walks in the World

Each of us leaves our footprints and fingerprints as we walk in the world. We leave our marks as we shape the world in which we live.

Some of us tend to think of history as being about people who leave significant marks on the world. Whether they make contributions or cause harm, they are remembered for the ways they lived their lives.

The people who inspire me are the ones who practice their values and allow spiritual life to walk in the world through them.

I know people whose names are not remembered in history who encourage and support the people around them. People have helped me recognize spiritual life in myself and in others. They have seen spiritual life in me, and helped me appreciate who I am becoming.

Each of us is growing and becoming and demonstrating what we value in our everyday lives. Spiritual life walks in the world as we practice what we value and become our true selves.

Many of us experience our lives as a series of distinct moments. Each moment, though, is part of a larger picture of spiritual life walking in the world.

Spiritual Life Walks With Us in the World

I know people who seem to think people who live in monastic communities are hiding from the real world.

They seem to think monks are people who cannot handle the difficulties of everyday life and need to retreat from it.

The people I know who practice monastic life seem to be particularly attuned to walking with spiritual life. Life is neither more challenging nor easier for them. They take time to focus and reflect, to pay attention to their values and put them into practice.

Freeing themselves from some of the distractions of our everyday lives, they work to put their values into practice.

Like us, they work to understand themselves and what they value.

Each day has its opportunities to remember what we value and put our values into practice.

We take time to listen and pay attention each day, to remember our values and principles.

What are we willing to spend our lives doing? How will we practice our values each day?

How will we appreciate spiritual life walking with us in the world today?

When will we practice walking in the world with spiritual life this week?

[Image by andy_5322]

Greg Richardson is a spiritual director in Southern California. He is a recovering assistant district attorney and associate university professor, and is a lay Oblate with New Camaldoli Hermitage near Big Sur, California. Greg’s website is StrategicMonk.com and his email address is StrategicMonk@gmail.com.