Ahh! It is
already September 9th!
Again I say,
AHHHH!
Harvest time
and back to school.
Apple picking
and rail splitting.
How in the
world are we here already?!
So, before time
gets away from us and we find ourselves buried with obligations and busy
schedules, perhaps we could plan a routine that might help us enjoy the
changing seasons a little more.
More importantly,
this is a post for our kids. Going back to school can be a stressful time for
little kids and even for mature university and seminar students. Unfortunately
most of us are too busy getting kids out of the house or rushing off to our own
classes to give much thought to their spiritual needs. Kids and adults alike
need a sense of stability and familiarity to reduce their stress levels and
help them adjust.
So with a
little help from Spiritual Director and Green Theologian, Christine Sine, here
are some suggestions on how to be more intentional about slowing down and
finding God in our days:
Suggestions for school kids and their
parents.
1. Begin the
school day with a simple breath or circling prayer. I love this simple Celtic
prayer which I wrote a couple of years ago and which several friends use with
their children before they go to school
The
sacred three encircle us,
Keep
love within and fear without,
Keep
peace within and violence out,
Circle
us with your presence.
Keep
truth within and injustice out,
Keep
acceptance in and prejudice out,
Circle
us with your grace.
Keep
wholeness in and disease without,
Keep
care within and selfishness out,
Circle
us with your love.
2. Include a
short prayer in your child’s lunch box Such as: Thank you God for this child
(use name). May your light shine upon him/her. May your love fill him/her. May
your spirit grant him/her peace. Or you may just like to say something like:
Thinking of you and praying for you as you eat your lunch.
3. When you
first see your child after school check how their day has gone. You may like to
ask the questions: Where did you feel close to God today? What made you feel God was a long way away?
One of my friends told me that this revolutionized her child’s approach to
school and their sense of God’s presence in the day.
Suggestions for Students
Those who are
students themselves may like to develop a similar routine. Trying to spend half
an hour each morning reading the bible and praying is usually impossible but
finding a simple rhythm of prayer and ritual that draws us close to God not
only reduces our stress levels but increases our ability to focus, helps us
respond compassionately to our friends and teachers and enables us to keep
close to God 24/7.
1. Begin the
day with a breath prayer and/or short relaxation exercise that makes you feel
relaxed and close to God as you enter the day.
2. Use a book
of prayers arranged to be said at different times during the day (called
offices). My favourite is Thomas Merton’s “A Bookf of Hours.” It takes but a
few minutes to move through the prayers and poetry provided. A copy can be
found in our library.
3. Pause at the
end of each class to offer a short prayer of gratitude for what you have learnt
in the session.
4. Before you
go to bed ask yourself the questions: Where did you feel close to God
today? What made you feel God was a long
way away? This is a very abbreviated form of the Prayer of Examen which I
highly recommend if you want to spend more time.
5. Before you go to sleep name 5 things from
your lectures and study times that you are grateful for.
September 9th!
Enjoy the ride, friends. God walks with us as we enter into this familiar
season of change.
With love,
A
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