In the first chapter of her book: When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times, Pema Chodron begins with the following: “Embarking on the spiritual journey is like getting into a very small boat and setting out on the ocean to search for unknown lands.” A spiritual journey is an adventure! And while adventures are inspiring, they are also risky. We are drawn to the unknown and we fear it.  Yet fear can be a gift if we learn to move closer, become familiar and embrace it. Fear can be a place where courage emerges. As we move forward on our spiritual journey, staying in the present moment, embracing the unknown, walking the path, reaching into our pocket of faith and our pocket of hope, we may encounter the gift of fear and the gift of courage to overcome it. During this season of Lent, let us pray for the gift of fear and the gift of courage during our spiritual journey.

The word spirit is translated from the Hebrew word Ruah (“RuWaHa”). It means breath. Our spirit or our spirituality – like our breath – flows from the inside to the outside and back again. When we breathe, we inhale and exhale. Take a moment to concentrate on your breath – inhale and exhale a few times. Did you know that we take approximately 10-20 breaths per minute?

Breathing and spirituality is an essential part of our existence. While each of us breathes all the time and all at once, we all breathe a bit differently. Our spirituality is similar – it is a part of who we are – but it is different for all of us. There are as many different types of spirituality as there are people.

Our spirituality is part of who we are. It concerns our inner human nature, our values, and our experiences – our approach to life, to others, and to ourselves.

Spirituality is an aspect of the core of our being, with lived-out values that give purpose and meaning to life. Just as our breaths cannot be seen – neither can our spirit or our spirituality. But our spirituality shows forth in our behavior. Our spirituality can renew, lift up, comfort, heal and inspire us.

It has been said that an important aspect of spirituality is to be able to hold reality in one hand and hope in the other.

Spirituality comes in many different forms. Spirituality may be focused on a Higher Power, God, Spirit, Jesus, Buddha, nature or the universe.

It may be centered on any sense of “other” either deep within or above and beyond us. It is sometimes defined as “the impulse that empowers our living” dependent or independent of a specific religion or religious belief.

As we journey through Lent, let us take the time to explore and renew our inner spirit – each of us in our own way.

All night my heart makes its way

however it can over the rough ground

of uncertainties, but only until night

meets and then is overwhelmed by

morning, the light deepening, the

wind easing and just waiting, as I

too wait (and when have I ever been

disappointed?) for redbird to sing.

“And” teaches us to say yes

“And” allows us to be both-and

“And” teaches us to be patient and long-suffering

“And” is willing to wait for insight and integration

“And” keeps us from dualistic thinking

“And” does not divide the field of the moment

“And” helps us to live in the always perfect now

“And” keep us inclusive and compassionate towards everything

“And” demands that our contemplation become action

“And” insists that our action is also contemplative

“And” heals our racism, sexism, heterosexim, and classism

“And” heals us from the false choice of liberal or conservative

“And” allows us to critique both sides of things

“And” allows us to enjoy both sides of things

“And” is far beyond any one nation or political party

“And” helps us face and accept our own dark side

“And allows us to ask for forgiveness and to apologize

“And” is the mystery of paradox in all things

“And” is the way of mercy

“And makes daily practical love possible

“And” does not trust love if it is not also justice

“And” does not trust justice if it is not also love

“And” is far beyond my religion versus your religion

“And allows us to be both distinct yet united

“And” is the very Mystery of the Trinity

Taken from Richard Rohr: The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See

Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words. St. Francis of Assisi

I may be going out on a limb here but I consider Sr. Elizabeth Johnson a modern-day saint. Saints are often  the voice of change and challenge authority within the institutional Church. Let me say, while neither is perfect, I love my Church and I love Sr. Elizabeth Johnson.

For those of you who may not know her,  you will get a glimpse into who she is – if you decide to read the article. See the link below. She is considered one of the “architects of Catholic feminist theology.” She is a 72-year-old nun and a distinguished professor of theology at Fordham University.

Whether or not you agree with or consider yourself a feminist in faith – I think you will find this article thought provoking.

It is not a quick read, so take a look when you have some time to read and reflect on it.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jamielmanson/feminism-in-faith-catholicism

I love stories – reading them, listening to them, sharing them, learning from them, wondering about them and struggling with them. I often read the same story over and over again, listening to the message and hearing something new each time.

In her book: Start Where You Are, Pema Chodron shares this Zen story about a boat: 

There is a man enjoying himself on a river at dusk. He notices another boat coming down the river toward him.  He thinks that its nice that someone else is also enjoying the nice summer evening.  However, he realizes that the boat is coming right toward him moving faster and faster. He begins to yell at the boat to watch out and turn aside. Yet the boat continues to move toward him all the while gaining speed. He stands in his boat and begins to scream and shake his fist.  As the boat crashes into him, he sees that it is an empty boat.

This is a classic story of our life situation. There are a lot of empty boats out there and we can scream and shake our fist at them or we could let them stop our minds, so we can rest in that little gap.

Before we scream and shake our fists today, let’s slow down for the empty boat.

I bless the night that nourished my heart

To set the ghosts of longing free

Into the flow and figure of dream

That went to harvest from the dark

Bread for the hunger no one sees.

All that is eternal in me

Welcomes the wonder of this day,

The field of brightness it creates

Offering time for each thing

To arise and illuminate.

I place on the altar of dawn:

The quiet loyalty of breath,

The tent of thought where I shelter,

Waves of desire I am shore to

And all beauty drawn to the eye.

May my mind come alive today

To the invisible geography

That invites me to new frontiers,

To break the dead shell of yesterdays,

To risk being disturbed and changed.

May I have the courage today

To live the life that I would love,

To postpone my dream no longer

But do at last what I came here for

And waste my heart on fear no more.

Taken from: To Bless the Space Between Us