Faith Venture

The famous concert pianist played a short chamber concert. A middle-aged woman rushed up to her at the conclusion.

“Oh, how lovely,” she gushed. “I wish I could play like that.”

“No you don’t,” replied the pianist. “If you did, you would find a teacher and practice hours a day.”

You wish you knew the Bible like someone you know.

You can. Pick up a Bible in a translation that suits you and begin reading. With intent. Every day. Think about it. How does this paragraph fit into the theme of the entire “book?” What is the writer trying to say? Does what I read contradict what I’ve been taught? (Many times I’ve talked with people who discovered that what they thought was in the Bible actually isn’t!) Find a teacher–in person or read commentaries.

You see someone with an aura of calm assurance and deep joy. You wish you could have it.

You can. Practice deep prayer with intent. Every day. Maybe three times a day like Daniel in the Hebrew scriptures. There will come a time of realization that you have changed. You’re calmer in interactions. You’re not so easily worked up.

You see someone who is a dedicated servant to others. They cook for a “soup kitchen” or serve food or offer hospitality at church. Wow, I wish I could be like them.

You can. Ask how you can help at the soup kitchen or the homeless shelter or at church. Practice doing with intent to be a server. 

Or, back to the original story. Find a teacher of piano or guitar. Practice daily. Maybe begin to serve by playing at small church gatherings. Invite people to your house for some music and food. Or find friends to do that. 

You can do it. Intent. Practice. Repeat. Go for it!

Computer science professor Cal Newport writes on the intersection of technology and life. His latest thinking involves reducing the distraction of smart phones and digging behind the hype of AI.

He synthesized some research recently on his podcast regarding cognitive fitness. I think these easily fit within a spiritual disciplines or practices framework.

Newport suggests five routines that promote cognitive fitness:

• Read—delve into progressively more difficult texts over time if you have not been reading
• Write—journal or keep a notebook of thoughts, ideas, experiences; write the newsletter for your organization; writing requires thinking and motor skills
• Take “Thinking” Walks—get outside for a period of time each day, no phone, perhaps take a problem you’re working on or a concern to ponder, write insights achieved
• Plug in your phone—when home, plug your phone in the kitchen or foyer, go to it when you need to look up something, also delete distractive apps
• Learn a hard skill—guitar, violin, knitting, carpentry, something where you can see progress as you practice

These are great ideas. Transforming these to assist our spiritual development takes but a small step.

• Read spiritual texts from the Bible to respected authors (e.g. Merton, Nouwen, the Desert Fathers, and the like)
• Write a journal or daily reflections, a newsletter or blog
• Take meditative or prayerful walks (with eyes open!)
• Plug in your phone (see above), remove distractions from your life
• Practice service and kindness (for many of us, this is a hard skill) or perhaps a musical instrument to contribute to gatherings