Thursday, October 22, 2020
The Rev. Anne Williamson
Practice
Practice – How I do what I do always makes a difference
When Rob asked me to offer a reflection on the word ‘practice’, I was whisked back in time to my ten-year-old self and my dread of that word…mainly used in conjunction with the flute … ‘did you practice today’? No, was usually the answer. No, that is, unless there was a ‘chair’ competition coming up, then I was diligent as I longed to be the first chair flute in the school band…occasionally over the next seven years there was enough practice to make that happen, but mostly not! I have recently begun learning to play the harp and after a number of decades have realized that in matters of music and spirituality, practice matters!
One of my favorite 21st century prophets is the sociologist and storyteller (and Episcopalian!) Brene Brown. In her audio book ‘The Power of Vulnerability’, Brown talks to a live audience about the difference between attitude and practice…in this instance she is speaking about the practice of gratitude, as opposed to the attitude of gratitude.
Brown says the practice of gratitude is very different from having an attitude of gratitude, and she relates this to yoga: “I have a yoga attitude: I have yoga clothes. I live in yoga pants actually. I have yoga shoes. Somewhere in my house I think I have a yoga mat… I do not practice yoga. So if you ask me to do something up here, how far do you think my attitude of yoga will take me?”
Spiritual attitudes are not unimportant – having a posture of gratitude, an attitude of gratitude is good, but it is putting our posture into practice that will help us grow.
One of my other favorite 21st century prophets is the late Rachel Held Evans. Held Evans was a progressive Christian author who died last year at the age of 37. A group from St. John’s discussed her book ‘Searching for Sundays’ earlier this year. In her search, she also found a home in the Episcopal Church toward the end of her life.
In another of her books, ‘A Year of Biblical Womanhood’, she writes ‘If you want to do violence in this world, you will always find the weapons. If you want to heal, you will always find the balm.”
This past week, I came across the following spiritual practice offered by Steven Crandell, the Director of Content and Communities for Spiritual Directors International. This practice is ‘inspired by the power of Held Evan’s intention to find and apply the balm of healing by standing firm for spiritual hospitality, by defending everyone’s right to dignity, respect and the freedom to find one’s own path to grace.’ I offer this practice to you. May you find it a blessing. Peace. Anne
THE PRACTICE:
1) Wake up any morning – and before you get out of bed or do anything else – say this: “How I do what I do always makes a difference.” Breathe in and out slowly. Then say again: “How I do what I do always makes a difference.” Breathe in and out and repeat a third time.
2) Find individual space. Welcome stillness. Then choose something you normally do. In fact, something you will do in the next hour or so. Walking the dog. Cooking a meal for your family. Answering email at work. Playing silly games with your children. It doesn’t matter what you pick. Just discern for a moment and let something everyday-ish arise.
3) Take your ordinary activity and give it an extraordinary, yet appropriate, intention. Say your intention out-loud – with joy and conviction – like a vow. For example, “I cook this dinner for my kids so that they may grow strong and healthy” ….. or “I listen to my co-workers for the sake of affirming their agency and experience” …. or “I clean this toilet so that everyone who uses it may do so in comfort and with confidence” … or I hold my grandfather’s hand to share my love for him” … or “I say this prayer (about anyone you choose) for the sake of her/his/their healing and wholeness” …. If an intention does not arise quickly, no worries. Just choose something at random to get started. (This practice is like riding a bike. Once you start generating a little momentum, it’s much easier.)
4) As you engage in your chosen activity, hold the intention in your heart. Touch your heart with your hand if this helps you remember.
5) Once the activity is complete, find some stillness and ask yourself … Was anything about your experience of this ordinary activity different? And if so, what was different?
6) Try it again another day with another daily activity, if you like. Discern. Bonus practice – ongoing …. Say this phrase whenever you feel your heart closing with doubt or fear or anger – “How I do what I do always makes a difference.”