Without action, you aren't going anywhere.

— Gandhi

Greetings, Inspired Seekers:

How's your prayer and meditation life? Or, perhaps a better question — how's your spiritual practice life?

During troubled times, do you increase your time in prayer, reflection and meditation or do you feel “too busy/too upset” to practice? With the practice of meditation and yoga being mainstream, it is wise, I think, to ask these and other questions as a way of improving our discipline and as a way of holding ourselves accountable to a spiritual practice of growth rather than a “feel good” trend of the moment.

If, after all, our practice on the cushion is not leading to a change in our choices off the cushion, what are we missing? Is our meditation time changing us at our core? Is it transforming us to become more compassionate, understanding and kind? Is it giving us space to see life from a different perspective while being less judgmental? If not, perhaps we have relegated meditation practice to a mere physical fad.

Are we fully engaged in orthopraxy or are we sitting only in the “feel good” space? Is our practice big enough or do we simply see it as a way to relieve stress? There's nothing wrong with meditation as a stress reducer but, if there is no life-change, we diminish a sacred practice handed down through the ages. After all, “yogas” in Hinduism are defined as disciplines. As such, they are paths for growth and enlightenment; they provide us with different ways of living and different ways of praying as we make our way in the world.

Whatever our chosen practice may be, it requires that we are faithful to its highest form. Practices open us to the evolution of our faith, our souls and our consciousness. And so, as we celebrate the heart in this month of February, perhaps we should ensure that our hearts hear and learn the messages and lessons that spring from our practices and, then, put them into action.

Love, that sits in an empty space, is crying out to be given away. Just a heartfelt thought, sent from me to you!

Grace, Fully Yours,
Reverend Deborah

Monthly Affirmation: I practice off the cushion what I practice on the cushion.

As we begin to emerge from this pandemic and you begin to think about sacred celebrations and rites of passage, know that The Reverend Dr. Deborah Darlington honors all traditions and creates personalized ceremonies that honor your beliefs and practice. She can be reached at GraceMatters@TheSpaceForGrace.com.