What Does It Look Like?

After four weeks of discussing Hamilton's book, Why?, we moved onto figuring out what the form, or how to be in relationship with God.  In the church we talk about being in relationship with God, but we don't really talk about what that looks like.  Your background, your current situation, and your expectations shape how you see it.  We talk about what worship looks like, but we don't really share what our personal relationships look like.  Jesus tells teh disciples that it isn't always all about doing Kingdom Work in this passage:

Mark 6:30-34; 53-56

³⁰ The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. ³¹ Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

³² So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. ³³ But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. ³⁴ When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

⁵³ When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. ⁵⁴ As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. ⁵⁵ They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. ⁵⁶ And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

During the discussion group we talked about how we spend time with God and there were a lot of answers that I would say are traditional.  Not surprising since we are a pretty traditional congregation.  I am absolutely positive that they are wonderful vehicles for those who use them.  They included things like reading a daily devotional like Guideposts or The Upper Room, praying while driving to work, being out in nature, watching TV shows that explore the wonder of creation, and classical music.  I just had to say at that point that for me it is Afro-Cuban-Latin rock.  Silence.

That silence made me wonder, why does it have to be a quiet time?  There are plenty of non-European rituals involving dance, song, active relationship.  Think of the whirling dervishes, African tribes, Caribbean peoples, Native American rituals.  I think that the form can be just as individualized as our relationship.  The important thing is to: 1.) make the time; and 2.) find what works for you.

So this week I have a two-part challenge for you.  First, at the bottom of this post on the right hand side you will see a link that says "comment" that will hopefully have a number in front of it.  Click on the link and in the comment box write how you make time to be in relationship with God and what that looks like for you.   From the drop down list select the profile you want to use - the beauty is that you can choose Anonymous if you aren't comfortable sharing, and that is just what you will be. (But, you can still share an idea that may help someone else.)   Then click Publish.

The second part is to try one of the forms that gets listed in the comments.  I have been so focused on music and motion, that I forgot silence  is equally effective.  Last week's exercise in coloring a mandala was particularly calming and illuminating for me.  (I think I will have to break out the crayons and coloring books!)