An online magazine of faith based on a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. The mission of Unitarian Universalism: A Way Of Life ministries is to provide information, teach skills, and clarify values to facilitate the evolutionary development of increasingly higher levels of spiritual development for human beings around the world.
Showing posts with label Suggested spiritual practice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Suggested spiritual practice. Show all posts
Monday, January 15, 2018
Suggested spiritual practice of the day #15
Access our Inner Spirit for 2 minutes every day or more. Sometimes it helps us to look for the divine spark in the first person we meet today first, and then the second and third. When we sense the divine in the other we find it more easily in ourselves.
Sunday, January 14, 2018
Suggested spiritual practice of the day #14
Some people are religious but not spiritual. Some people are spiritual but not religious. Some people are both spiritual and religious. Briefly compose your religious and spiritual autobiography so you can share the highlights with someone interested in 5 - 10 minutes.
Saturday, January 13, 2018
Suggested spiritual practice of the day #13
Take a media fast. Give up social media and turn your cell phone off. Take a day off and enjoy the peace and quiet and listen for the Angel's music in the wind or stillness of the room you are in.
Friday, January 12, 2018
Suggested spiritual practice of the day #12
Instead of being reactive, back off, calm down, get things into perspective, ask the Holy Spirit to help you figure out how you want to respond, and then go back and deal with things.
Thursday, January 11, 2018
Suggested spiritual practice of the day #11
When the "stinking thinking" tempts you to focus on it today, put your thoughts on something more positive, relaxing, and positive. Think of two or three "happy places" where you can go when external events are stressing you.
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Suggested spiritual practice of the day #10
Pay attention today to your intuitive inklings of what you think God might have created you to become.
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Suggested spiritual practice #9 - get more sleep
This may seem like an odd spiritual practice but it is one that, when you think about it, can be very soul soothing. Sleep is a way to re-charge our batteries. We can't give what we don't have. When we are drained, burned out, fatigued, exhausted, we cannot find the energy as easily to be kind and loving unless we are kind and loving first with ourselves.
Try it. Get more sleep. See if you don't feel more spiritual.
Try it. Get more sleep. See if you don't feel more spiritual.
Monday, January 8, 2018
Suggested Spiritual practice # 8 - Listen to inspiring music
UUs see Jesus a differently from most Christians. UUs don't see Jesus as any more God than the rest of us. He is an older brother, enlightened, and a great teacher whose memory can help us immensely. His memory of His teachings, values, practices set a great example for the good life. His life was and is a light in the world.
Sunday, January 7, 2018
Suggested spiritual practice #7 - Walking meditation
Thich Nhat Hahn made walking meditation famous in the United States with his book on the subject. It would be good to do this every day but few people in our modern life have time. How about twice a week for 15-30 minutes?
For more click here.
For more click here.
Saturday, January 6, 2018
Suggested Spiritual Practice of the day #6 - Lectio divina
Engage in reading a book on spiritual ideas for 15 minutes every day. These practice is called "lectio divina".
For more click here.
Share your favorite spiritual books on this blog by sending your suggestions to davidgmarkham@gmail.com or leaving your suggestions in the comments.
For more click here.
Share your favorite spiritual books on this blog by sending your suggestions to davidgmarkham@gmail.com or leaving your suggestions in the comments.
Friday, January 5, 2018
Suggested spiritual practice #5 - Give something away
In many religious orders, priests, monks, brothers, nuns, sisters take a vow of voluntary poverty. Most of us are not following a religious vocation but we can benefit from a life of simplicity. It is a good practice to give some of your stuff away periodically. Maybe you can give it to a friend, on a re-cycle list in your area, or to the Salvation Army, Goodwill, or Volunteers of America second hand store. The spiritual life strives for simplicity and to give up our attachment to things.
Practice giving things away periodically like one day per month. It is better if you give things away personally one to one rather than through second hand store. However you do it, though, your spiritual life and others will benefit.
For more click here.
Practice giving things away periodically like one day per month. It is better if you give things away personally one to one rather than through second hand store. However you do it, though, your spiritual life and others will benefit.
For more click here.
Thursday, January 4, 2018
Suggested Spiritual Practices #4 - Random acts of kindness
One day this week, perform five acts of kindness—all five in one day. It doesn’t matter if the acts are big or small, but it is more effective if you perform a variety of acts.
The acts do not need to be for the same person—the person doesn’t even have to be aware of them. Examples include feeding a stranger's parking meter, donating blood, helping a friend with a chore, or providing a meal to a person in need.
After each act, write down what you did in at least one or two sentences; for more of a happiness boost, also write down how it made you feel.
For more click here.
Editor's note:
Kindness should be a way of life not just some random acts, but a practice has to start somewhere. So start with 5 random acts of kindness in a single day and then go from there. The more practice the better you will get at it. It will become a natural way of life.
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
Suggested Spiritual practice of the day #3 Three Good Things
Before bedtime think in your mind of three good things that happened to you that day. They may be big things or little things. Things at the time you knew were good or only recognized during your review. You will find you go to sleep with a positive, peaceful frame of mind and feel more grateful for the great mystery of your life.
For more information click here.
For more information click here.
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
Suggested spiritual practice of the day #2
Say a prayer upon awakening thanking the Universe (God) for another day and ask to be given the awareness to do God’s will on earth as it is in heaven.
Do this every day. After a while it will become a natural part of your daily routine and you will create a joy and peace in your life that is immeasurable.
Monday, January 1, 2018
Suggested spiritual practice of the day #1
In 2018 there will be a new column on UUAWOL entitled Spiritual suggested practice of the day. If you have practices of your own please send them to me at davidgmarkham@gmail.com or post them in the comments. Can we generate 365 suggestions?
The first practice is to look for the divine spark in a friend and give him/or her a compliment letting him/her what you appreciate about knowing them. This is best done in person or in a phone call. Using text or email is not preferred but better than nothing.
It might be best if you can do this every day. If not at least a couple of times per week. Life is short. Like Larry the Cable Guy says, "Get ir done!"
The first practice is to look for the divine spark in a friend and give him/or her a compliment letting him/her what you appreciate about knowing them. This is best done in person or in a phone call. Using text or email is not preferred but better than nothing.
It might be best if you can do this every day. If not at least a couple of times per week. Life is short. Like Larry the Cable Guy says, "Get ir done!"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)