A guide to interfaith relations: 9-27-12
Short-circuiting fear in faith: 9-29/30-12

Why 'spirituality' is so hard: 9-28-12

Clouds-minn
WILLMAR, Minn. -- In one of the break-out sessions at a congregational training event here this past Saturday for the Minnesota Valleys Presbytery, the Rev. Sarah Butler was urging members of the small group in attendance to pay attention not so much to what they do but to how they simply can "just be."

Being in the presence of God intentionally, she said, is what constitutes spirituality. But she added this:

"We're afraid of spirituality. The American work ethic has ruined us."

(To which I might add that something of the opposite -- our relentless desire to be entertained to death -- has ruined us, too.)

Sarah had invited me here to give the keynote address for this training event, and I did, but as usually happens when one is asked to give, one gets more than one gives.

And Sarah's admonition to take time simply to "be" is one I need to hear more often and one I need to put into practice more often. I'm much better at doing than I am at being.

Sarah serves two small congregations in Minnesota and her sermon for them last Sunday unpacked her idea that the work ethic (usually called the Protestant Work Ethic, and often blamed on the Puritans or John Calvin or both) has made us unreceptive to the idea of simply being and enjoying the presence of God.

Have a look at the sermon. Sarah might have been preaching not just to me but to you, too.

(Why the picture here of clouds? Well, while I was waiting to board my plane in Minneapolis, I was just "being" by watching clouds. So I "did" something to prove that I was just "being" and took this photo of them.)

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NORTH SPRINGFIELD, Vt. -- Just FYI: I'm now in New England for a few days for some family and personal time and, thus, won't have time to be adding my usual second item at the bottom of each blog until I return next week.

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