Lectio Divina: Fancy name for “cool way to pray.”
Ever since our conversation last Thursday night, and particularly in light of the insights brought by Joanne, I’ve been thinking that I need to get back in the habit of doing some contemplative, silence-based spiritual exercises. I took a class on this kind of stuff 2 years ago now and really enjoyed it, but of course never managed to develop the habit. In particular, I enjoy the discipline of lectio divina, which means divine reading, and is a type of contemplative, centering prayer. Here are two links describing it in depth, but there are far more.
I’ll let you know how the spiritual disciplines go–that is, whether I get around to it or not. What with all the school stress though, I’ve either got to do this or go crazy, which will really be bad for my psychological career.
November 14th, 2005 at 6:46 pm
I’m usually very quiet while on the internet. Maybe I should be spending MORE time on the internet to develop this discipline.
Do posts like this amuse or upset? haha. I would post something equally contemplative, but most of the time my brain is thinking of dumb things I find funny, and rarely anything worthwhile.
November 18th, 2005 at 8:42 am
On hearing from God, being directed by the Holy Spirit: I’ve often said that there’s a fine line between hearing from God and being crazy. Been wondering about Noah lately. Do you think he had perfect faith the whole time he was building the ark and being ridiculed by everyone…..”rain, what’s rain?” I’m sure when the animals started showing up and goin in, that was major confirmation that he had, in fact, heard correctly from the Lord. But before then, do you think he might have questioned his own sanity?
November 20th, 2005 at 3:56 pm
Who knows. Maybe he only finished the ark, at least in part, because quitting would’ve been an admission of insanity. So, yes, assuming Noah was human, I’m guessing he felt as embarassed and doubtful as anyone else would’ve. I sometimes make the mistake of thinking people in the Bible had extra amounts of faith or certainty that I lack. And even after Noah’s faith received confirmation, he must’ve spent the next 40 days going INSANE on a boat filled with stinky animals and seasick family. He reminds me of me in this way: Even if I know that I am where God wants me, that doesn’t necessarily mean I will feel happy and well-adjusted. At least not all the time. I guess I’m thinking of grad school here. Sure, I think God called me to study, but there’ve been days ever since when I’ve wondered why I listened.