This reflection was part of the Vitality newsletter sent on June 5, 2026. To sign up for Vitality, click here.

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Exploring a Wide Range of Options

Several years ago, I enrolled in a program by the School of the Spirit. School of the Spirit which leads contemplative retreats and residencies. It was there in class that I first heard the phrase “daily spiritual practice.”

Our instructors encouraged us to build a daily practice—one that was accessible, one that we could commit to. At first I resisted: people had been telling me how they woke early to pray for others, or woke early to meditate on the Bible, and I couldn’t see that happening for me. I left on weekdays at 7:30 for work.

But in addition, committing to a daily practice seemed confining. I wasn’t sure I wanted to do the same thing every day, and I wasn’t sure that that would be life-giving.

The class readings at the School of the Spirit helped me to loosen my idea of “spiritual discipline” to include freedom and treats. One book suggested praying while holding on to a stone. Another offered tips on writing down dreams. I learned that although I’m not built well for lectio divina, I still love how it feels to doodle and sketch a prayerful phrase when someone reads it aloud. I began to feel inspired by the range of spiritual practices available to me.

What is your spiritual practice? Do you have one?

Joy and Commitment

I once met a Friend who defined spiritual practice as “something you start doing because it’s good for you, and something you keep doing because it feels good.” I love that definition. For me, it traces the path from diligence to joy. Joy is what keeps me going on my practices, not duty!

Joy can also help me get started. At the 2018 Gathering, I attended an interest group for the School of the Spirit. The joy of the recent graduates was unmistakable. Each person had a little twinkle in their eyes — and I’m not talking about cataracts. Their outward joy convinced me to apply to the next 15-month cohort.

Now, you know that I’m going to talk about the 2026 Gathering, because it’s coming up very soon. And I won’t promise you that you’ll have certain spiritual experiences there. But I will say that the Gathering often strengthens the spiritual practices of many different people, each in their own way, and for some people, in very special ways.

At the 2026 Gathering, there are workshops on contemplation, meditation, and living with integrity.They offer people avenues to align their inward spiritual life with outward action. There are workshops on generosity and mindfulness which relate to the spiritual practice of giving and receiving. There’s a workshop on storytelling and recitation, and with it, an opportunity to rewrite old narratives.

And in the meantime, I hope your spiritual practices bring you joy, renewal, love, and peace.

Johanna Jackson

Communications Coordinator