The Practice of Savoring
All spring long, I’ve undertaken a spiritual experiment meant to bolster my own personal spiritual life. The work of the religious professional makes unreasonable demands on one’s spiritual life, and I’ve found it essential to continue to go back to the well so to speak in order to stay fresh and open and present to the movement of the Spirit. We religious professionals have history of increased incidents of spiritual calcification—something I’m committed to avoiding.
The thought of undertaking such an experiment was born from a book Susan Cain released a few years ago entitled Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make us Whole. It’s beautiful book, and if you’re a reader (or a listener) give it a read. It was one of the pieces of the puzzle for me. Cain writes of the practice of “savoring.” Cain calls savoring a heightened experience of inward awareness and gratitude. Savoring seems to me to be a near neighbor to mindfulness, which I define as present to the present moment without judgement. Both practices are spiritual disciplines in my book.
Back to this personal practice. This spring, I took up a mantra, and I’ve sought to apply it to each aspect of my life—my work life, my family life, my social life. My chosen mantra is, “these are the days.” As I’ve stood on the lacrosse sidelines this spring watching Daughter Jade and her pals compete, I whisper to myself these are the days. On Easter Sunday morning at the Chapel of the Transfiguration as the sun was rising, I reminded myself, “these are the days.” Amidst pastoral crisis with dear ones from our community, I told myself, “these are the days.”
The practice itself is meant to give me an awareness of the present moment. What I didn’t expect is that the practice itself has delivered me joy—it’s been a joy making practice—and I find my heart softer and more open. Tears more present along my lower lids in the best of ways. Cultivating joy in this particular way (and having that happen somewhat unexpectedly) has led me to a more grounded and integrated spiritual life that leads me to even more gratitude. These are the days.
Love,
Jimmy
