I don’t
know about you, but when I hear the word “practice” I think about work! We run
our kids to baseball practice, soccer practice, and dance practice. We remind
our kids and grand-kids to practice their instruments. When our job descriptions
change, we practice new skills. Perhaps you
hear the phrase “spiritual practices” and think, “More work? No thanks.” At
this year’s Women’s retreat, I want to change our minds about Christian
practices. Christian practices don’t take up our time, they transform our time, reclaiming it as a
gift from God.
I invite you to think of
the practices we will learn together, not as things to do, but as doorways into
God’s grace, mercy, and presence. We practice prayer when we learn how to invite
God into our conversations, joys, and longings. We practice hospitality when we
make neighbors out of strangers and learn to treat all people as people created in God’s image. We practice
discernment when we learn how to serve God in the places where our “deep gladness
and the world’s deep hunger meet.” Through Christian spiritual practices, our lives
become a liturgy, our work becomes an offering, and our time becomes a gift. I look forward to practicing God’s grace, mercy, and presence with all of you in April!
Grace and Peace to you!
Rev. Amy Cox
