The Care and Feeding of Your Soul

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You’ve drawn so close that it’s hard to see you.
And you speak so softly that it’s hard to hear you.
And I guess that’s what I get for inviting you in.
Because you took me at my word, and now I know that

Faith is not a fire as much as it’s a glow.
A quiet, lovely burning underneath the snow.
And it’s not too much – it’s just enough to get me home.
Cause love moves slow – Love moves slow.

This is the chorus of “Slow,” a song written and performed by Audrey Assad, whom I’ve mentioned before in this blog. You can hear her sing it at www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OZp2UezV54.

I’ve started with Assad’s lyrics because like many of her songs, it moves me. And the point of this post is to encourage people who seek God to nourish their souls emotionally as well as intellectually.

First, a word about the term “soul.” Using it violates one of the norms I’ve used in this blog: to avoid “churchy” terms. “Soul,” like “heart,” however, has taken on a secular meaning, used regularly in poetry and song-writing. It’s not just used in church.

Still, the dictionary defines soul as “the spiritual part of a person that is believed to give life to the body and in many religions is believed to live forever.” And it’s the word that best fits here because in the search for God, people express their “spirituality,” the part of us that doesn’t depend upon the physical and measurable, the part that must open to God’s call if we want to find him/her.

Nearly all spiritual writers agree that the soul must be nourished, but that’s a foreign concept to many of us. Today in the western world we are all but obsessed with food and physical exercise, but the care and feeding of our souls seldom occur to us.

We are also daily assaulted by negative, even depressing, narratives and images that may distort our view of the world and ourselves. Like the big-city crime investigator who sees a daily parade of murderers, thieves and rapists, we may begin to believe that humans are basically evil, making it hard to see God in others.


Audrey Assad
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And that idea may be strengthened by what happens in our own lives – the betrayals and hurtfulness of others, possibly combined with our self-contempt.

We need to be aware of these assaults and make sure they’re balanced by positive, life-confirming stimuli that not only provide a momentary inspiration, such as that found continuously on Facebook, but people, images and material that support our search for God.

The first thing many of us will say is, “I don’t have time.” But it’s a truism that we make time for what’s important to us. It’s also true that the feeding and care of our souls doesn’t take much time.

So, what sources are available for people searching for God? Here are some suggestions:
 
·       Prayer. You probably don’t think of this as a “source,” and it may be hard for you to shake the idea that you’re just talking to yourself when you pray. But this is where I invoke the Nike slogan, “Just do It.” If you do it with a sincere heart despite your doubts, prayer has a way of balancing the crude observation that “sh.. happens.” 

·       Others. Yes, connecting with others - especially those who have a positive outlook on life - because despite what we glean from the media and popular culture, that’s where God is. This is one of the key mysteries of Judeo Christianity: that God is present in others, and easier to find in the poor and marginalized.   

·       The Bible. I know, it’s like asking you to read Shakespeare. But it’s not really that hard, especially if you try the easy translations, such as The Message, which comes in “regular” and “Catholic/Ecumenical” editions. Also, start with the easier books of the Christian Bible, such as the Acts of the Apostles, and the Psalms in the Hebrew Bible. 

·       Web sites. One of my favorites is Sacred Space (www.sacredspace.ie) by the Irish Jesuits. It’s available in many languages and includes daily prayers, Scripture and other readings, and a “3-minute retreat” you can make on your desktop, laptop or smart phone. There are lots of such sites for Catholics, Protestants, Jews and others, as well as for non-believers. Just take time to find them. 

·       Periodicals. I like America magazine, the National Catholic Reporter and Christian Century, but look for those that are right for you. These media balance the steady droning of the national and local media which, however they try to be objective and fair, often make us feel rotten about ourselves and make us cynical about any connection with the transcendent. 

·       Church (synagogue, etc.). You may not be ready for this, but praying with others who are also searching for God can be a shot in the arm for your spiritual life. The key is finding the right congregation and liturgy. Don’t be afraid to drive across town or make other sacrifices to find them. 

·       Art, literature and music, such as that produced by the likes of Audrey Assad. They appeal to a part of our minds that aren’t reached by “rational” approaches and as religious people have known for centuries, we can find God in them.

 

 

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