I am writing this article during the fifth week of Lent, the week before Holy Week. During Lent, I am reading Walking in the Wilderness: Seeking God During Lent by Beth A. Richardson. Beth is the Director of Prayer and Worship in the Upper Room and Dean of the Upper Room Chapel.
Walking in Wilderness is a daily meditation book that features opening quotes from religious authors, relevant scripture, Beth’s thoughts, prayers, and words to keep in mind each day. On Sunday, Beth will talk about the spiritual practices she believes we long for in our own wilderness experiences: being present, mourning, sacred prayer, trust, compassion, and hospitality. I am writing. Developing spiritual practices strengthens your relationship with God.
Lectio divina is the reading of the same scripture four times. Read, reflect, respond, and rest. For some reason, in my head, Lectio Divina thought that he was reading the same scripture three times. Maybe I thought that because of Trinity, or maybe I thought that because I didn’t really like Lectio Divina and wanted it to end quickly — haha!
I experienced a different method of doing lectio divina last year at Good College Farm in Hutchinson. And I experienced Lectio Divina again in this different way at the Anglican Church in Lichfield during a Lenten service. I was used to lectio divina being read by the same person over and over again. At Good Courage Farm and at the Anglican Church, the same scripture was read to a different audience each time.
Hearing different and distinct voices with short reflective moments between each reader opened up the lectio divina experience for me. This is a lesson not to abandon spiritual practices, especially ones like lectio divina, which date back to the 6th century, before adjusting them to suit your needs.
I was so impressed by the experience of reading the same scripture with different readers that I decided to work on improving Lectio Divina when I was the only reader. I read the same verse over and over again throughout the day, in the morning, after lunch, in the evening, and before bed. I am now a big fan of lectio devina as a way to read the scriptures more deeply and hear what God is speaking to me.
Good Courage Farm introduced me to “creative reading.” I just want to thank Mother Kelly Meyer and Pastor Christian Mullerile for teaching me about Creation Reading. On bended knee, I thank you both for deepening my faith journey.
I love the Bible’s creation passage. But to my great shame, I realized that because I was so intent on creating men and women, I treated the God who created the world, the sea creatures, birds, and land animals as “yada yada.” I knew. How we read the Creation story influenced how we read the entire scriptures. I was content to just skim through quotes about nature and animals without giving them the thought or respect they needed.
During Lenten services between Presbyterian, Episcopal, and Methodist churches and Good Courage Farm, our services include creation readings in honor of Jesus in the wilderness. I was there. Thanks to the work of Christian pastors, we learned about the creatures and characteristics of the desert wilderness of Judea, emphasizing the presence of God’s Spirit in the wilderness.
Creation readings consider what the world, nature, and animals can teach us about God, and what God is trying to teach us through the creation of the world, nature, and animals. I read the Bible in detail and study aspects of the world, nature, and animals that are mentioned in the Bible. Recognizing God’s love for the world, nature, and animals has expanded my understanding of the Bible.
It’s good to grow spiritually. I pray that we all continue to grow spiritually. May it be so, amen.
