What is Beneficial?

In a recent weekend message, Scott (co-pastor at Northstar Community and my son too) asked us to think about, without ruminating, on this idea that we are following a long line of people throughout history who have wrestled with conflicts due to political differences, religious beliefs and even eating habits!

Just because something is technically legal doesn't mean that it's spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I'd be a slave to my whims.

1 Corinthians 6:12 The Message

He reminded us that we are free but there are bumper pads (like the ones for bowlers who cannot bowl), limitations to our freedom, for those seeking to be a person of faith. One of those bumpers involves asking the question, "Is this beneficial?" or to quote Eugene Peterson "spiritually appropriate." I wonder: who benefits? Who decides what is spiritually appropriate?

That's a big question. Who benefits? What is beneficial? You will notice in Corinthians - everyone thought what they were believing was righteous, good, and many felt differently on the same subject. They could not get consensus. So this is a big question: What does beneficial look like? I cannot answer this question with any degree of satisfaction, but I do know one thing, and I want to wrestle with that one thing a bit tomorrow.

For today, I ask you: what would happen if we all started asking ourselves daily - is this choice spiritually appropriate?

Moving Beyond What You Want...

Virtually all spiritual traditions have created meditation practices. Often touted as a relaxation technique, in a world that desperately needs some calm, if it works for you - go for it!

But isn’t spirituality and recovery more about waking up?

What if prayer and meditation could do both? What if it could help us move beyond our preoccupations with what we want - our habitual ways of self-soothing? What if we could find what we need? What if we could become more fully human? More compassionate, accepting, forgiving and purposeful?

When I grow forgetful of the benefits prayer and meditation has gifted me over the years, it does not take long for me to receive much needed reminders. They don’t show up as texts or emails, they bubble up in sleepless nights, anxiety, irritability and hopelessness.

I often wonder what my mental health would be like if I had not once been, to quote Wallace, “ORDERED to pray”.

So then, let us ot be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.

1 Thessalonians 5:6 NIV

I have no authority to order anybody to do anything. But I invite you to join me in silent meditation and breathe. Here is a prayer I find myself using on days when life feels too hard and I want to avoid uncomfortable feelings. It’s a breath prayer:

Inhale slowly and steadily as you say, “God, I am made in your image.”

Exhale slowly and steadily as you say, “God, I am able to feel pain without perishing.”

OR

Inhale slowly and steadily as you say, “God, do not leave me.”

Exhale slowly and steadily as you say, “God, I will show up for my life, trusting you are here.”

OR

Inhale slowly and steadily as you say, “God, you know every hair on my head.”

Exhale slowly and steadily as you say, “God, I can pay attention to my life knowing you are with me and nothing is hidden from you.”

Let us pray.