Spiritual Practices on Interstate 89

Exit 11 off of I-89 is where my new spiritual practice begins. Driving home from work, I have begun to use the exit ramp in my town as a prompt to turn off the radio and pray. I use the remaining 2 miles to ask God to help me transition from my work life to my home life, from one call to another. I think about my family, wondering how I will find them, and ask God to help me be of some use. Like all practices, this one can be a struggle at times – my work issues don’t like being stuffed in the glove compartment, and they often bust loose in those last 5 minutes. If the story on NPR is particularly compelling, I will often cheat a little. Still, it is a discipline that connects me with God, and helps me to negotiate the liminal space between two important calls in my life.

Our Theme for This Issue

This first issue of the magazine has Spiritual Practices as its theme. As always, we are interested in supporting your many calls in the world. Our belief is that spiritual practices are central to a call-centered life. Spiritual practices, both individual and corporate, remind us of the One who calls us. They are a way for, in the words of the Psalmist ‘deep to call to deep’.

As you read through this issue of the magazine, you will notice that spiritual practices can be wonderfully diverse. There are practices that are time tested, disciplines that have helped practitioners of faith connect with God for ages. Worship, prayer, Bible Study, journaling have, and will continue to strengthen our spirit. And there are new, creative ways of opening ourselves to the Holy. I depend on both.

Building Spiritual Strength

Spiritual practices are challenging because they usually don’t have immediate payoff. In that way they are like working out, or any discipline. On any given day, and any given practice, it is hard to tell if anything is happening. In fact, sometimes it feels like we are getting worse, not better. I usually don’t feel spiritual when praying or writing in my journal. Sometimes when meditating I am more distracted than the first time I tried it.

But I trust that something is happening. My soul muscles are being stretched and strengthened. After I close the Bible and journal, I am just a little more aware of God’s presence in my life and in the people around me. Devotional practices build spirit capacity that help us get through the rough patches of our calls to home and family, work, and community involvement. They strengthen the foundation for a time when the challenges come. And they deepen our gratitude.

The Gift of Perspective

A second new spiritual practice of mine also has to do with my family. The practice comes just before climbing into bed. Most nights I quietly slip into my daughter’s room for just a moment. Occasionally I will need to rearrange her covers, or recenter her on the bed. But the primary purpose is not for her; it is for me. I have discovered that something about looking at her sleeping reorients me. We may well have been battling it out just an hour before about bedtime or some other major issue. I may have reminded her for the 15th time to get back into bed, with great irritation in my voice. But to gaze at her while she sleeps changes me, and puts the day in perspective. I often walk out of her room feeling more grateful for life than when I walked in. I never would have guessed that going in my daughter’s room to tuck her in would become a spiritual practice. But it has.

Finally…

Most of us struggle to find enough time in the day to do what is important. We do not have unlimited time for spiritual practices. So even deciding what disciplines we will undertake is a matter of call. I hope this issue of the magazine helps you as you decide which spiritual practices to undertake. And may your spiritual practices help you as you seek to live your faith in the world you live in.

Doug Wysockey-Johnson is the Executive Director of Faith At Work. He, his wife Kathryn, their daughter Isabel Marie, and their son Soren William live in Richmond VT. Read about his call and vision for his journey ahead.