What is Your Salvation Story?

Monastic communities are well-known for having a rule of life that governs the rhythm of their personal and communal lives. The rule is shaped by communal agreement and a long history of what works. That's important because 'rules' can often be seen as arbitrary. Yet what monastic communities learn is there is a logic to spiritual disciplines. Time will tell if rules help peple flourish or not, and on that basis we can decide to keep or adapt the rule.

In my role as the Rector of the congregation, I look for those 'rules' which should guide our communal life together. I try to discipline myself and other parish leaders to ask, "Is this activity God-centered?" I must note that there are churches in which Christian ethics have become separated from their beliefs and experience of God. When that occurs, Christianity becomes reduced to being 'good' people rather than living as a 'salvation community.' How do I define 'salvation community?; A community of salvation is concerned with being, or at least becoming, a particular kind of community or society. We are - or at least concerned with becoming - a community explicitly fixed on who God is, what God has done, and what God is doing. This is about putting God at the center of the church. St. Michael's may do this imperfectly. It is my goal that we keep working on it.

Sounds great. But what kind of spiritual practice helps us get there? One activity I want to help us rediscover is the practice of giving and hearing 'testimonies.' There's a word that has fallen out of fashion! Episcopalians might be more comfortable with hearing about 'faith journeys.' I like to call these 'moments of gratitude' because that is closely related to my own spiritual discipline of daily reflecting on thankfulness - where God is acting in my life, and who are the people who have shaped or inspired my faith. This kind of sharing is so very different from a discussion that focuses on "agree/disagree" statements. This kind of sharing may engender an intimacy that makes us a bit uncomfortable. But I remind you that intimacy is the hallmark of true love and deep relationship, something that God is always trying to achieve with us and for us. I try to share those kinds of reflections in the newsletter each week. But this cannot be a one way street, me to you. I want us to learn from one another. On Sunday mornings during worship and in the occasional newsletter reflections, we will be hearing from parishioners who have ordinary and extraordinary experiences of God.

Try this spiritual discipline for the next week, ten days, or a month. Each day, ask and answer: Where is God acting in my life? Have I thanked God for that? Who are the people who have inspired my faith? Have I thanked them for that?

Who knows? You may find yourself in a new and deeper relationship with God!

Faithfully,
Gail+