A VISIT, © 1995 by John August Swanson, Serigraph 38½" by 14½",
JohnAugustSwanson.com
TRY: Next time you attend church, focus on a favorite moment, like the opening hymn or communion. You can also plan to savor the holy moments of every day, like eating an orange or watching the birds. During the moment, pay attention to what you see, hear, taste, touch and feel. Afterward, recall the experience and remember how it affected you. Some people have found that recording favorite moments in a journal helps them feel grateful and cherish their experiences.
Volunteering As my daughter healed, we visited other congregation members who’d experienced health crises. We tried to support them in small ways, like bringing our dog to cheer them. We also benefited from hearing their stories.
TRY: For maximum benefits, choose a volunteer activity you like that connects you with people. For example, if you love children, volunteer with a tutoring program. If you prefer gardening, helping out at a community garden might be a better fit.
In Mary Oliver’s poem “The Summer Day,” she confesses to not knowing what prayer is but knowing how to pay attention. Like Oliver, I still don’t know what faith is or if I’m any good at it. But I do know how to engage with others around the joys and sorrows of life and to savor the moments we share. Perhaps this is enough.
Melander is the author of A Generous Presence: Spiritual Leadership and the Art of Coaching (Rowan & Littlefield, 2006) and editor of The Word in Season.
LIVINGLUTHERAN.ORG 19
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52