Noticing New Life
a few short spiritual practices for eastertide
Last week I held an Easter mini-treat: Preparing to Notice. This is one of my favorites because I love the themes we circle around — new life, renewal, and resurrection. This retreat takes a closer look at my favorite Martin Luther quote: The Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.
Springtime has become a time to notice new life all around me. To practice resurrection, as Wendell Berry writes1.
Traci Smith2 puts it so well too: To notice resurrection in the everyday is to be in tune with the greatest truth of the Christian faith: death is not ultimately victorious. There is always hope. There is new life all around.
But, how can we possibly look for new life, or notice resurrection when there seems to be so much suffering and destruction all around us? How might we practice resurrection amidst violence and war?
I don’t have the answers, but I do believe that we don’t have to choose only life or death. Resurrection or crucifixion. They are part of each other, and one does not exist without the other. Today I brought you a few short practices from last week’s retreat, so you can practice holding two things at once.
Name the Suffering
Begin by finding a few quiet minutes to pause and reflect. You might sit on your back porch or in a comfy chair.
Take several deep breaths, relaxing into the moment.
Start by naming the suffering in the world. Journaling or in silent prayer, hold those close who are at war, hungry, displaced, afraid, unsafe, grieving, or lonely. Be honest about the realities of our world.
Next move closer to home and name the suffering around you. Either in your journal or in prayer, hold your neighbors, co-workers, extended family, church community and whoever else in prayer as you acknowledge their suffering.
Now, name the suffering and hardships in your own life. Do not let what is happening elsewhere keep you from naming your own grief, stress, anxieties, hurt, or overwhelm. God listens to our prayers.
Finally, return to your deep breathing releasing to God the suffering of all creation.
Practice Resurrection:
Using the ideas and quotes I mentioned earlier sit with the idea of what it means to practice or notice resurrection. You might pull your journal back out or simply sit in silent prayer.
Next name what is. Name the ways that you are already noticing the new life all around you. Do you watch the birds out your window or tend a garden or care for children? Or listen for laughter? Have you mended a relationship or forgiven someone? Have you helped out a neighbor or friend? Have you worked to dismantle harmful systems? Do you care for creation? Name the ways you are already practicing resurrection.
Now spend a few minutes naming the invitation. Where is God inviting you to notice or practice resurrection? Where are you called to participate in the healing work of God? How can you be changed by resurrection?
I’ll leave you with the words Ingrid Goff-Maidoff leaves us with in her poem The Listening Bridge:
Remain quiet and listen
for what the voice born of stillness
might say: perhaps, simply:
Love. Carry on. Practice Kindness.
Have affection for this day.
alongside you,
Holly
Links & Spiritual Direction News
I’d love for you to join me at my next retreat, Preparing for the Ordinary, on Thursday, May 27th at noon CT (recording available)! More information and registration here.
This summer, I am offering a spiritual direction group open to anyone interested! This group of 4 to 6 attendees will meet together (via zoom) to bear witness to the workings of God in their own lives and those in the group. Each hour-and-a-half session will include a guided time of centering, time for sharing, silence, and prayer. Register here!
I’ll also be hosting a spiritual direction group specifically for clergy and ministry leaders. You can find more information and register for that group here.
If you are interested in individual spiritual direction and would like to connect and talk further, please email me at: hollyporterphillips@gmail.com.
Love Love Love Traci Smith!