Spiritual Discipline

Is there a title you have embraced or been assigned that felt like an appropriate fit? Have you ever resisted a label or designation that seemed to miss the mark? Perhaps, like me, there is one particular classification that gets under your skin such as Single, spinster, never-married, or childless. Even the department of transportation wants to rub this sore spot by asking me numerous times if I brought my marriage license to apply for a Real ID. Geesh! Some descriptors bestowed upon us might be suitable or earned, such as doctor, scholar, academic, or writer, but at times they feel disconnected, not to the point of Imposter Syndrome, but never quite hit the perfect mark to the depths of your soul. I admit I’ve never really “felt” like a Dr. Powell, that’s reserved for medical professionals or other smart people; however, I will contend that it was earned through an arduous process, yet I find it more fitting when students use my first name. That’s just me.

Upon reflection of the past few years, on this pilgrimage to determine the Habits of a Flourishing Life, I hesitate to own the identity of “writer” to describe who I am becoming. Perhaps blogger…that word seems a better fit, a little less responsibility than writer, but I cannot deny this process of research, reading, synthesizing, and applying fits into the category of composition. Hopefully, the quality to my writing is improving from the “novel” that was written in the eighth grade, school-award winner or not, it was terrible! But obviously the love of reading and writing continued into adolescence as evidenced by editing the high school yearbook and considering sport journalism as a major. Now, it has re-emerged as I have wrestled with how to reach this current generation of students, and writing essays, such as this blog, help to articulate what I’ve discovered; but I still have resisted the label. That is, until a recent conversation with a friend and colleague Beth Madison, that opened the door to consider this endeavor, this writing process, as a Spiritual Discipline.

So, of course, as a result of that conversation, I took a course of action that only I would embrace- researching writing as a Spiritual Discipline– and uncovered a similar experience to what Ashley Abramson shares, “Faith cultivates meaningful writing, but writing feeds faith just the same.” This journey, which started as a path to create transformational learning experiences for my students, has broadened into an unexpected walk with the Lord. If I am willing to Notice His Nudges, I will be led down rabbit holes that could only be guided by His great hand.

Abramson continues to offer, “Another amazing reality is that you can enjoy the spiritual benefits of writing even if you’re not a writer in any other sense. Here’s why: writing is sanctifying…Little did I know, the growth I hungered for was hidden in the mess I’d make doing what God created me to do…writing promotes worship…when I write, my perspective shifts. The mundane becomes a minefield for inspiration…writing is missional [perhaps Transformissional] …Because the Holy Spirit lives in us, we exude God’s character. Even if I don’t name drop Jesus in my article, the message of hope I capture relays a dimension of who God is…and writing is in itself an act of faith…Because much like our spiritual life, art is a risk: Something, or someone, beckons us to explore the unchartered, wild territory inside ourselves…Exercising faith in my creative life teaches me how to step inside of a mystery and believe for beauty-a lesson I apply every day as I pursue Jesus.”

Now, if you allow me to engage in the Spiritual Discipline of writing, then yes, I will accept the moniker of writer. Anything that allows me to create a Habit of Growth personally, professionally, or spiritually, I will embrace the descriptors that align with that process. Even if nothing is ever published outside this blog, I know in my soul that God is using this activity to speak with me, and hopefully, to you as well. And I will dedicate myself to doing my best with what God provides, and I will accept the responsibility that being a caretaker of this information requires (thank you, Beth and Ben Mitchell, for that wonderful articulation)!