Physical Tools for Spiritual Growth (30 Days of Mostly Silence-Day 27)

 

The Word became flesh.

When God wanted to connect, he did so through a tactile medium-something that could be touched and seen.

In the same way, we can often gain greater connection with God through things that can be touched and seen. Here are a few of the physical tools which nurture my spiritual growth:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Stations/Way of the Cross is a traditional and powerful way to connect with Jesus. The poster above comes from artist Scott Erickson and can be downloaded for free. I purchased a framed copy which hangs in my office. There are multiple versions of the Stations/Way of the Cross. I like the version based on the “Scriptural Way of the Cross” introduced by Pope John Paul II. The Stations began as a way for people who could not travel to the Holy Land to experience Jesus’ journey to the cross for themselves. Each station allows a person to reflect on a significant part of Jesus’ journey to Golgotha.  Many church buildings have three dimensional depictions of these scenes surrounding their sanctuaries. I have been profoundly impacted by spending time reflecting on each of these stations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These adorable seven faces hang on one wall of my office. They are three dimensional personifications of the Seven Deadly Sins: greed, lust, pride, envy, anger, sloth, and gluttony.  I got mine here.  My friend Earl Lavender at Lipscomb U introduced them to me. They serve as a visual (and visceral) reminder of the life I do not want to live. I often use them as a kind of Examen, reflecting on ways in which these sins have shown up in my life during the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another friend, Jackie Halstead, introduced me to Anglican Prayer Beads. I purchased mine here. Inspired by the Catholic rosary, the beads are an aid to prayer. In summary, holding the cross, you move into prayer. The large bead next to the cross, called the Invitatory, initiates the prayer. There are four more large beads, called Cruciform. In between these are seven small beads, called weeks. With each bead there is a prescribed prayer. These beads have become a way for me to initiate morning prayer and to connect with God during the day. There are a wide number of prayers that can be prayed using the beads.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, for many years I’ve endeavored to “practice the presence of God.” This is a way of striving to bring God to my consciousness throughout the day. I once asked a friend of mine if she could make a bracelet that might help me with the practice. She designed a circle with 12 moveable pieces, one for each hour during a typical day. As I strive to bring God to mind at least once an hour, each hour, I move one piece from one side of the bracelet to the other. A large flexible circle in the middle of the bracelet keeps the pieces on one side or the other. At the end of the day, I can literally measure my success. The number of pieces one one side indicates how many hours that day I brought God to mind.

How about you? What physical tools aid your spiritual growth?