Lamplight

Rule of Life may sound harsh, but it's actually an invitation to garden the soil of your life. In this episode we explore the rhythms of our day, week, month, or year that create the conditions for our lives to flourish. 

The season of Advent carries different meanings over time--waiting, preparation, and Christ's coming, to name a few. How do we find ourselves this Advent 2020 as we wait and prepare? In this episode, we discuss ideas for pacing ourselves and holding space in order to receive the gifts Advent 2020 offers us.  

One of life's greatest gifts is friendship. Yet, life's demands can get in the way of investing in our friendships. In this episode, we discuss the value of friendship and how we can experience God's grace and goodness in friendship. How might the gift of friendship bring you joy and hope in these pandemic days?

Walking doesn't have to be just about counting steps, burning calories, or getting to our destination. It can also connect us to our body and open our soul to God. As exercise goes, it is a gentle practice.  In the same way, it invites us to be gentle toward our self. When we go for a walk, the knots we carry can begin to untangle. We find a new sense of being grounded.  The false emotions we're carrying begin to fade. As you walk, try listening to what your body is saying to you about your life and your living. 

The Biblical tradition of Sabbath can feel out of reach in our age of busyness. Can I really take a break...or even just a nap? Science and human experience affirm the benefits of ceasing from work and worry. Rest heals, restores, and re-energizes us. Rest helps us take ourselves a little less seriously and get more serious about what matters most to us. Where and how might Sabbath begin for you? 

In this episode, we explore what Beauty is, how to find it, and the ways it heals the heart. Beauty is not something to passively wait for. It is something to encounter through our five senses. It is there in the midst of each day, but we miss it most of the time. What everyday-beauty is hiding in the corners of your life? Take time to notice it this week and discover both healing and a deepening connection to God. 

Spirituality isn't always serious. Play and Laughter are part of your spirituality too. They connect us to the very source of Life. They interrupt our stress, fear, and anxiety and open us up to goodness itself at the very heart of reality. It's been said that play is the ultimate goal of the spiritual life. Consider the things that make you laugh and enjoy for fun. Can you make them a regular part of your week? 

A "spiritual practice" sounds like something for monks, pastors, and the super-religious. But what is a spiritual practice, really? And why do many people find them helpful? Chris and Hannah introduce season one with thoughts on everyday spiritual practices as a means to open our minds, hearts, and bodies to the presence of God amidst the COVID-19 global pandemic.