Spiritual Disciplines: Habits of the Soul

Workshop number: 
29
Mary Kay
Glazer
Audience
Who may register: 
Open to All (adult & high school)
full-time attenders only
Time breakdown
Worship/worship-sharing: 
25%
Lecture: 
10%
Discussion: 
25%
Experiential Activities: 
40%
Description
Leader Experience: 

My interest in spiritual disciplines began a while ago, becoming more focused when I took a class on spiritual disciplines last fall. In the course, we engaged in spiritual practices related to Richard Foster’s twelve disciplines in his book Celebration of Discipline. That class helped me to have more head knowledge about disciplines as well as a deeper heart and soul knowledge. I began praying for openings to begin sharing what I’ve learned and to provide space for others to wrestle and play with God as they explore spiritual disciplines. This workshop feels like an answer to that prayer.

I have long wrestled with spiritual disciplines. There are some that are very easy for me to practice. There are also some that I think I should be doing more of but for some reason I am not able to. Then there are those that I have a deep desire to practice more; some of those have become part of my relationship with God, some haven’t. I often find freedom in the Spirit in the disciplines that I am able to practice faithfully.

I have led Couple Enrichment retreats with my husband since 1999, and I also lead retreats on our connection with God, including those focused on prayer. I am a spiritual director, a graduate of the School of the Spirit's Spiritual Nurturer program and the Shalem Institute’s Spiritual Guidance Program, and a member of New York Yearly Meeting’s Spiritual Nurture Working Group. I am currently in graduate school pursuing a master's in spiritual formation and leadership.

Short Description: 

Spiritual disciplines are the habits that can put us in the path of God’s grace. We will explore the “what” and “why” of disciplines, how God uses them to form us, and how they help us live with integrity. For those who want to contemplate how spiritual disciplines might free them to live more faithfully.

Long Description: 
    Once upon a time, a group of people from Chicago left their jobs in the high-rise office buildings, moved to the prairie, and bought some farmland. "We're farmers!" they all declared to each other. And all summer long they would go to the field to watch their crop grow up. However, when September rolled in, their fields were filled with goldenrod and all kinds of wildflowers and weeds. "Where's the corn?" they asked each other. And they wondered what they could have possibly done wrong. (From: The Reading Room at the Water’s Edge

    www.watersedge.tv/disciplines_intro.htm)

This story illustrates the profound and practical need for good habits; and not just good habits, but healthy spiritual disciplines. Without them, we are faced with fields of spiritual weeds and no usable harvest. With spiritual disciplines, we offer ourselves to God to be partners in God's good work among us; we accept God’s invitation to be disciples and to live joyfully among God’s people here on earth.

In this workshop, we will explore spiritual disciplines and their place in our lives individually and communally. We will look at the habits within which we dwell. What are the fruits? Are they life-giving? Do they put us in the path of grace? Do they open and soften us so that more of God can get in and work in and through us? How can spiritual disciplines support our life choices, our commitments, our relationships – and our deep longing to live faithfully in relationship with the Holy One? We will explore how disciplines help us to be clear in our intentions to live in a way that aligns with the Kin-dom of God – to live with integrity in our relationship with God, and within our families and faith communities.

Here is what Richard Foster, an evangelical Quaker and author of the book Celebration of Discipline, has to say about disciplines:

    Spiritual disciplines are "a means of receiving God's grace. [They] allow us to place ourselves before God so he can transform us." He compares spiritual disciplines with a narrow ridge with a sheer drop-off on either side: there is the abyss of trust in works on one side and the abyss of faith without deeds on the other. On the ridge there is a path, the disciplines of the spiritual life. We must always remember that the path does not produce change; it only places us where the change can occur. The task for us, then, is to cultivate our daily lives into fertile ground in which God can bring growth and change. This is what the spiritual disciplines are all about. (From The Reading Room at the Water’s Edge www.watersedge.tv/disciplines_intro.htm)

During this week, we can look forward to revelations about spiritual disciplines from our Inward Teacher – some that may surprise us – as we endeavor to live joyfully and faithfully in a world that too often distracts us, and even leads us astray.

We will use a variety of methods to work and play with spiritual disciplines, such as discussion, solo and interactive exercises, writing, and guided meditation. I will bring art supplies, and I invite you to bring your own as well. Also, if you have a journal and a Bible, please bring those. If you don’t have them, I will have some extra Bibles and some paper available for your use.

This is the probable framework for the week, knowing that the Holy Spirit may lead us in unexpected ways:

Monday

    Introduction to spiritual disciplines. What are they? How do those words make you feel?
    
What is the should of spiritual disciplines, and what is the desire?

Tuesday

    Deeper exploration and discussion of disciplines, including the what, why, shoulds and invitations. Spiritual disciplines within our faith community.

Wednesday

    What gets in the way? What are the obstacles and what are they telling you?

Thursday

    Playing with spiritual disciplines:
    
individual disciplines and communal disciplines.

Friday

    Sharing and celebrating the fruits of the week. Transitioning toward home.

As you prepare for this workshop:

    • Begin to notice the disciplines in your life – those that are explicitly spiritual as well as those that might seem less spiritual. How is God present to you?
    • Also notice the disciplines that feel light and easy, and those that feel like a burden. What do you notice about your relationship with God and neighbor in these disciplines?
    • Notice the times when you have good intentions but, for example, end up on Facebook all day; notice how you feel and what you might learn.
    • Perhaps you might be aware of the “shoulds” around spiritual disciplines, and also your desire and God’s invitations.
    • Read Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster.
    • Ask the Holy One for guidance on spiritual disciplines.

All are welcome in this workshop – especially those of you who feel a stirring in your heart as you contemplate how spiritual disciplines might free you to live more fully and more faithfully in the world and in your relationship with God.

Please bring with you, if you have them:

    • Journal or notebook for writing
    • Bible
    • Art supplies

These are all optional. I will have supplies available if you don’t bring yours.