We’re continuing our study of the building blocks. Have you completed your Soul Care Plan for 2018? .Soul Care Plan Link Today’s topic is building block “?”, for Mystery Block.
Today’s Scripture: Proverbs 8:30-31 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message)
As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.
My thoughts (Tyler Connoley):
I once asked a friend if she had any regular spiritual practices, and she responded, “Yes, my dogs. Every morning, before I do anything else, I sit on the couch in the living room. The dogs sit on either side of me, and I scratch their ears. We stay like that until I’m ready to start my day.”
In today’s Scripture, Lady Wisdom tells us about the creation of the world. She tells us that she was there in the beginning, and that she daily delighted in God, in the created world, and in humanity. This, for me, is one of the wisest spiritual practices available to us: To enjoy God’s created world, especially the humans and animals God brings into our lives.
One of my regular spiritual practices is to walk my dogs. Once a day, I take Lexi and Lucia out to a place where few people go, and where they can safely walk off lead. For an hour, they run and play, and I walk the trail. I feel the earth beneath my feet, grounding myself to the southwestern landscape I love so much. I throw sticks for the dogs to chase. I notice the changing skies, and the foliage. I observe the water — or, more often, the lack thereof — in our desert streams. Occasionally, I come across a snake or a tarantula, and feel my heart race. Or I see a species of bird I haven’t seen in a while, as it migrates north or south through our territory. Like Lady Wisdom, I delight in God’s created world.
Another similar spiritual practice is the regular dinners my spouse and I have with friends and family, and alone together. When we lived in Indiana, we ate with my parents every Sunday for lunch. It was a chance to delight in one another’s presence, to laugh and talk about anything and nothing. We no longer have such a weekly practice, but we do get together regularly with friends for meals at one another’s homes. And Rob and I often eat meals at the dining table at home, without the distraction of television, radio, or even friends. Again, these meals are a chance to talk about anything and nothing, and to simply delight in one another’s presence. For me, they’re part of the daily practice that keeps me spiritually and emotionally healthy.
Thought for the day: These are some of the ways I delight in God’s creation and in humanity. What practices do you have to follow Lady Wisdom’s lead?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.