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Today’s Scripture ~ Psalm 16.11 (CEV)
11You have shown me
the path to life,
and you make me glad
by being near to me.
Sitting at your right side, I will always be joyful.
Wisdom Saying
If birds stop beating their wings, they quickly fall to the ground. Unless your soul works at holding itself up, your flesh will drag it down.
You must renew your determination regularly.
Stay with it. Time flies away. Keep your eyes on heaven. Don’t throw it away for earthly things. Look to Jesus Christ and be faithful to him.
*St. Francis De Sales. The Devout Life.
Comments
I came up in a community where we had wells with pumps. At times, we had to prime the pump, which entailed pouring in water until the suction was established and the pump would be operational again, able to draw up water.
We, too, need to prime our spiritual capacity. And we need to do this daily, renewing our determination to nourish the inner life first and live from that center.
Our sensitivities to the Spirit of Christ can become dull, our spiritual senses need reawakening. This deadening due to misuse or lack of use can occur to us as persons and to entire spiritual groups, such as churches. Without the flow, over time the inner life, where is the wellspring of Spirit, becomes inert, for we have not primed the inner life.
However, this priming of the inner life should not be effortful. A bird in flight remains in flight simply by using the wings provided it by Nature. The bird uses only the amount of effort needed to cooperate with the gift of its wings and the gift of the wind. The Word manifests in the world, as in our inner lives, through the natural and graceful processes natural to all things. If I am effortful in my devotions, then, I am working against the Spirit, the Wind. I only need to put forth enough effort to ease into the Wind and let the Wind carry me.
As Francis De Sales reminds us, our flesh will pull us downward. This is not because the flesh is evil; rather, the flesh is held aloft in a higher air by the pulling upward of the Spirit.
Those who live in the “higher air” know of what I speak of, and they know what it means to neglect their devotions and fall into “lower air.”
There is, as the Psalmist says, a joy at being near God. Indeed, the Christ Light will enlighten the way, showing us the “path of life,” but we are the ones who choose to remain focused on keeping our hearts and minds pointed in the right direction. We can enjoy being near God, at the “right hand” of power and honor, but we must engage the daily and periodic spiritual disciplines to keep us seated next to Him
Suggested Reflections
How do you prime the pump of your inner being? Do you need to renew your determination to put Christ first in all things, including spending time daily so as to live from the center? What is “the path of life”?
Brian is available to respond to requests pertaining to seeking a Spiritual Director, his speaking, doing classes, workshops, or retreats for churches or other spiritual groups. He will inform regarding how to receive his other writings or offer replies to comments or questions.
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*Brian K. Wilcox is Pastor of Christ Community United Methodist Church, Punta Gorda, FL. He is a vowed member of Greenbough House of Prayer, a contemplative Christian community. His passion is living a contemplative life and inspiring others to experience a deeper relationship with Christ through contemplative prayer and living.
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