I was introduced to meditation in my 7th grade Confirmation Class. And, while it took me till much later to develop a daily practice, meditation is a cornerstone of my spiritual life.
Why? It helps me slow down. It helps me reflect. It enables me to put things in perspective. And most importantly, it helps me hear God’s leading.
This week I took the next step in my practice by starting a 2-year Mindfulness Meditation program. This weekend is the opening retreat in Washington DC.
I am probably the only pastor here. Most people who are participating are psychotherapist, nurses, psychologists, teachers, yoga instructors & business people. The training is secular, meaning it has no faith affiliation, and I imagine most of the 1400 people enrolled are secular people.
But interestingly, today we were asked why we enrolled, the largest reason given was a desire for spiritual growth. Yes, people are here for stress reduction and to improve their relationships, but it is so interesting that today when people seek spiritual connection they are as likely (more likely?) to seek a meditation practice than to seek a church community.
Why? As I listened, I heard those around me sharing the hurt the church has caused and continues to cause. News this week featured articles about abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention and the Roman Catholic Church. This next week, the United Methodist Church meets again to discuss the exclusion of LGBTQ people. It is easy to see why secular people are looking for other ways to connect to their spiritual lives.
As I begin this journey, I begin with an openness to how practices of mindfulness can build bridges to faith. As I listened today I thought about how present faith was as we spoke of compassion, forgiveness and love. I also come to learn and to be changed knowing that all truth, all love, all hope is from God and that wherever I find it, “bidden or not bidden, God is present.”