The Art of Spiritual Practice

“Attention is the beginning of devotion.”  Mary Oliver

These words from one of my favorite poets came on my meditation app this morning and riveted me. Particularly the word “devotion.”  I don’t hear that word so much anymore.  Yet if I was to boil down the essence of the path of following Jesus, I would say it is a path of love and devotion. I’ve talked and written a lot about love lately, examining what kind of love is particularly needed for the world now. Maybe it’s the same kind of love that is always needed—a love devoted to concern for others while not negating self. Jesus took care of himself with times for prayer and parties and rest. But he was devoted to the healing of others and the teaching of how to love others.

How then to be devoted in our lives? Oliver suggests attention. What need for love has come to your attention lately? Just that. Just becoming aware of what the Spirit is bringing to your attention right now in a world aching for love. I’m not suggesting it has to be something that the world sees as big, but it could—like how Central Lutheran has built tiny homes for homeless seniors. It could be a simple thing that you usually do without even thinking—like taking care of children or grandchildren or recycling or setting up for communion. The important aspect is—do you bring your full attention to the task? In that, do you see how you are following the path of love and devotion? If so, it brings a whole new depth to the doing. By paying attention to each small or large thing in our lives, it evokes devotion. It means you bring your heart into it, you can’t be swayed from it, you don’t waver. You expand each simple act with a grace not your own, with an enthusiasm you can’t explain.

Jesus was devoted to his path of reconciliation and love. As a spiritual practice this week, take some time to reflect on where you put your attention. What are you devoted to in your life? How does that walk weave itself into a path also devoted to following the teachings of Jesus?  

Pastor Marcia Wakeland is a retired ELCA pastor, a spiritual director and a listening advocate. She is interested in the actual experience of having faith and how that is lived out. She can be reached at mwakeland@gmail.com for comments or more questions Her ongoing blog of living out spiritual practices is listeninglife.live