Doing What God's Children Do

Remembering Saints

All Saints' Day is a day of remembrance. On this day it is good to remember who we are. We are God’s children, given new birth through the Holy Spirit and given new life in community with all others who share faith in Christ.

In the Hector Pieterson Museum in Soweto, South Africa, there is a life-size photograph of a youth carrying the lifeless body of Hector Pieterson. Hector was the first child killed in the violent response to the peaceful demonstration of school children in Soweto. In this photograph, Hector's sister is running alongside the bearer of her brother's body. Beside the photograph is the response of the family of the youth who risked his life to carry Hector away. It says, "Our brother is not a hero. This is what we do."

Saints are not heroes. To be a hero is to be a champion, standing taller and stronger than those around. To be a saint is to be one of God's children, doing what God's children do, standing no taller or stronger than others but living faithfully together, doing what God's children do.

All Saints' day is a day to reflect on how grateful I am for the life I have shared with those who have gone before me - those who taught me about life, love, and faith. What a great gift it is to be a child of God! On this day, we proclaim not ourselves, nor one another, but the strong work of God in us for good. To God be the glory on this day as we celebrate the family of all of God's saints.

This particular All Saints' day is the first one that I have felt a deep loss. This year, my family lost our precious daddy, Jimmy Sprayberry. Our daddy lived well for the 90 years of his life. He lived a life of love, faith, and service. He was the kindest of southern gentlemen, the most doting of fathers, the ever-generous one to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He loved our mother fiercely and cared for her passionately. It was said at his funeral that he always sought to do the right thing. That is our legacy from him - to do the right thing - to live as children of God doing what children of God do.

I remember and honor my father on this All Saints' day and every day. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

A Prayer for All Saints' Day

Almighty God, your saints are one with you resting in the beauty of your presence. We remember them with love this day.

We pray that you will give us grace to live lives

that seek holiness,

that love fiercely,

and that serve graciously until we are gathered into the joys which you have prepared for your children. Be alive in us, Holy One, and hold us in unity with

all who rest in your peace. Amen.

Lord, Show Me the Way

Walking through this life is indeed a journey. Sometimes the journey is adventurous and thrilling. At other times it is heartbreaking, and we feel lost and alone. On the path, we know there will be bends and curves. Some will bring beautiful surprises and others will bring unexpected hardships. We never really know where we are headed.

I have often used the journey image for referencing life. Jesus journeyed with his people. Those adventures took them to hillsides for miraculous lunches, to the sea to witness Jesus walking on the water, to a garden for prayer, and eventually to a cross.

This year my life journey has taken unsuspected and unwanted turns. There has been deep loss. I have felt hurt that at times felt unbearable. Disappointment and grief have marked the way. At times the path has felt dark and lonely, but from within myself, a prayer has risen up.

I often turn to music to soothe myself into prayer. With my Baptist background, the songs that usually form in my head are hymns or choral anthems, but recently I have found myself humming a song written by one of my favorite rock bands, Styx.

The refrain, “show me the way,” has played over and over in my head. This song has become my prayer…my mantra. In my search for meaning, direction, and peace this song has been MY song on the journey.

"Show Me the Way", was written by Styx band member Dennis DeYoung for his son, Matthew. DeYoung was a devout Roman Catholic and described his song as a “pseudo-hymn” written about the struggle of faith in a “world so filled with hatred.”

The refrain, “Lord, show me the way” has been on repeat in my head, and unlike the skipping of a vinyl album, this repetition has been soothing. It has been my plea to God… ”show me the way. Take me tonight to the river and wash my illusions away…give me the strength and courage to believe that I’ll get there someday.”

From an unexpected place, God gave me a song for my journey. I am grateful for the hope and healing that this song has given me. The blessing is that God travels with us and sings to us the song that our heart needs to hear.

Lord Show Me the Way

"Every night I say a prayer in the hope that there's a heaven,

And every day I'm more confused as the saints turn into sinners.

All the heroes and legends I knew as a child have fallen to idols of clay,

And I feel this empty place inside so afraid that I've lost my faith.

Show me the way, show me the way.

Take me tonight to the river

And wash my illusions away.

Show me the way.

And as I slowly drift to sleep, for a moment dreams are sacred.

I close my eyes and know there's peace in a world so filled with hatred

That I wake up each morning and turn on the news to find we've so far to go.

And I keep on hoping for a sign, so afraid that I just won't know.

Show me the way, show me the way

Bring me tonight to the mountain

And take my confusion away,

And show me the way.

And if I see your light, should I believe?

Tell me how will I know.

Show me the way, show me the way.

Take me tonight to the river

And wash my illusions away.

Show me the way, show me the way.

Give me the strength and the courage

To believe that I'll get there someday.

And please show me the way.

Every night I say a prayer

In the hope that there's a heaven."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhJZ58lUqeE

The Art of Spiritual Direction

What is spiritual direction? Is spiritual direction for me?

“We are travelers on a journey, fellow pilgrims on the road. We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.” These words by Richard Gillard from the hymn We are Travelers on a Journey would make a good anthem for those of us who engage in the art of spiritual direction.

"We are certainly a generation of people on the move - constantly wandering but never quite arriving. "

For some, this concept of journeying with a spiritual guide or friend may be a familiar practice. For others, the term spiritual direction or spiritual director may be a new and interesting idea to explore.

Often, we refer to life as a journey. We are certainly a generation of people on the move - constantly wandering but never quite arriving. As Christians, we seek to follow the path of Christ, but if we are honest, we often grow weary and homesick. Along the journey, we will need the care of a companion who can offer hospitality that includes restoration and comfort.

The goal of a spiritual director is to offer holy hospitality. While the Holy Spirit is the ultimate director, the task of the spiritual director is to help the individual reflect on their journey with the Divine, to recognize and claim their identity in Christ, and to discern the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Spiritual direction is not...

Spiritual direction is not therapy. It is not about fixing or eliminating pain. It is about knowing where God is in the pain. Spiritual direction is not coaching one to reach their goals, but it is helping the seeker uncover what the soul desires. Spiritual direction is not mentoring but accompanying someone in listening to the voice of God. Spiritual direction is not teaching. Teaching means to impart wisdom, and spiritual direction is about uncovering the wisdom that lies within.

Spiritual direction is...

If those are all the things that spiritual direction is not, what IS spiritual direction? Spiritual direction is holy listening. That listening begins with stillness and the understanding that God is present and eager to be discovered. Spiritual direction is exploring practices such as meditation, centering prayer, journaling, and art to discover the seeker’s best way of experiencing Divine presence. Spiritual direction is companionship where the spiritual director holds space for the seeker. This is a space that is safe, loving, and affirming.

As a spiritual director, my goal is to offer compassionate presence and holy space where seekers can explore and discover how God is at work in their lives through ordinary, everyday events. I hope that as seekers journey forward they will learn to connect to their own souls and discover the very essence of Christ living and breathing within them. Spiritual direction sessions offer the seeker opportunity to reflect on his or her relationship to God, to learn contemplative practices such as centering prayer, to reflect upon scripture and spiritual writings, and to employ the arts as a means of expressing emotions.

“I will hold the Christ-light for you in the nighttime of your fear; I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.” (Richard Gillard, We Are Travelers on a Journey)

Ruth DuCharme, of Macon, Georgia, has served for over thirty years as a minister in the area of faith formation. Her new ministry is providing one-on-one and group spiritual direction, retreat leadership, and pulpit supply.