Spiritual Exercises from Chapter 3: "The Genesis of Practice" from Finding Our Way Again by Brian McLaren.

1. Ponder the significance of Abraham as the patriarch of our planet's three great monotheistic faiths. Think of (or find) a friend of the other two Abrahamic faiths. Seek them out. Tell them about this chapter, and ask them about the role of significance of Abraham in their faith. Don't argue. Simply listen, learn, and seek to build common ground based on this shared source of inspiration.

This one is difficult for me because I don't have close friends anymore from the other two faiths. And to be quite honest, I don't find hold much significance to Abraham as maybe I should be based on this chapter. Without a doubt, though, I imagine that I would find some of that inspiration if I were able to have a meaningful conversation with a practice Muslim or Jew.

2. Go over the seven Abrahamic practices and notice how the author derives them from the biblical story. Then reflect of your experiences with each of these practices.

Pilgrimage - the closest thing I have to pilgrimage is my experiences going to chapter camp of InterVarsity when I was in college. This was an intensive week of community and inductive study, usually the gospel of Mark. It was raw, stretching, and that mountaintop experience with God we usually crave. As an post-college adult, I haven't had that pilgrimage experience in the same way. I went to a men's retreat once (coincidentally at the same location as college camp conference) but the entire weekend experience soured me to the core. I have never wanted to return to that experience, not really even giving it a second thought. The experience was the exact opposite I had in college, immature, irreverent, and insensitive, which is ironic because I would have expected that more in college.

Fasting - the only fasts I have ever done is for medical reasons. I don't have a spiritual concept or connection to fasting and God. Maybe I should take this one on somehow.

Sacred Meal - this one takes on a number of meanings to me. Within the framework of Communion at church, it is shaped more as a personal connecting time rather than a community meal, which I found odd. I think this is a breakdown of our western, individualized system of believing. But over the past two years, I've found that our small group meals on alternating Fridays has become the sacred meal for me. This time is sacred, and both Andrea and I protect it carefully. It's a chance for the 8 of us to dine together around one table and share in each others lives. It's open, it's not forced, it's community.

Common Prayer - this one is definitely one I want to explore more. Prayer for me is merely non-existent in the traditional sense. I lack any prayer discipline, and I've tired of the popcorn prayer scenario in groups. What I would like to do is pray through the psalms and common prayers to discover this discipline. I'll be interested in how McLaren describes this later in the book.

Giving - isn't this a sore subject for everyone? Despite that, we cheerfully give to two organizations outside of our church, though not at a percentage recognizable in the OT. Neither Andrea or I have a strong commitment to give our money to a wealth church without a strong direction. (Though this year we did feel a strong direction towards one particular project.) Instead, we decided to focus our giving to the poorest of the poor. Both are listed on the right side of this blog - Cross International and Blood:Water Mission.

Sabbath - if I need to return to any practice, Sabbath is the one. I take this so lightly, but I've seen over the past 6 plus months just how little rest I give myself. Whether suffering through migraines, overloaded by stress of work or raising two young children, or simply not following through with my creative interests (playing piano/guitar, writing music, writing words), I need to find a Sabbath ritual that brings me back to center.

Liturgical Year - this one especially intrigues me, though I should know more than I do given that I've attended a Presbyterian church for almost my entire life. As I seek to raise our children to live within the love of God that I so desire, being aware of the seasons of faith would be an excellent start.

3. Consider this: your life is improved and enriched by the fact that some people are practicing dimensions of the spiritual life that you don't practice, and their lives are enriched by your practices. For example, what benefit do you derive from people who are more dedicated to the Sabbath than you are? How might this be true of other practices?

Personally, I find it challenging when others are more dedicated to Sabbath than I am. Honestly, it wouldn't take much to be more dedicate, but seriously it is an accountability and reality check. How do I stop and rest and find focus on love, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control? It is motivating, no matter how small.

As for other practices, most of them I've never even considered, so they would help me on this stage of my journey.

4. Imagine the world in one thousand years, in the thirty-first century, following two scenarios: one in which the seven ancient spiritual practices have been forgotten for a thousand years, and one in which they have been revitalized and followed.

This is difficult for me because for my own 34 or so years, not many of the seven were even in my stream of consciousness. I can imagine more that they will have been forgotten than revitalized, but I have this twinge of hope for a revitalization. Yet at the same time that scares me because even know most times those who practice these seven faithfully are portrayed as fanatics, extremists, fundamentalists, on the fringe. It's unfair, and I have my own stereotypes I'm thinking about within the Jewish and Islamic faiths, as well. That saddens me. These ancient practices should do the opposite - make us more open, more peaceful, more loving.

5. Reflect on your previous four answers. Let each reflection turn into a prayer that you write or speak aloud.

God, make me more open, more peaceful, more loving through my learning and applying these ancient practices to my life journey. Give me wisdom, strength, and humility to love others through them, and find your peace to share.