The Art of Spiritual Practice

I recently returned from a camping trip up north, and I was delighted each day with the fields of fireweed swaying in the wind along the roadside and up into the hills—a fire of pink blossoms, full of the heat of the sun. It’s been a summer for all the flowers to thrive and delight in the warmth and rain. Fragile, full of light, full of delight by just being. I watched a Native elder once crouch down and hold his hand over a bed of pansies. He looked up to see me watching with interest. “I like to feel their energy,” he said, smiling.

What’s a spiritual practice for this July time of blooming and blossoming? I suggest you spend an entire minute (at least) just looking closely at a single flower. Notice its petals, colors and intricacies. Keep looking. See what else you see. Take a breath. Keep looking. Can you feel its energy like the Native elder? Can you sense or see or realize the presence of God in this one pristine unfolding of creation? 

Notice how it impacts you afterwards. I doubt you will say “sad” or “angry” or “distracted.” I wonder if you will 

Pastor Marcia Wakeland is a retired ELCA pastor, a spiritual director and a listening advocate. She is interested in the actual experience of having faith and how that is lived out. She can be reached at mwakeland@gmail.com for comments or more questions Her ongoing blog of living out spiritual practices is listeninglife.live