During these last 3 months I enjoyed the practice of the "Daily Office," (see Peter Scazzero's EHS resources) at least twice a day. The "Office," an ancient spiritual discipline of set times to be in God's presence, comes from opus in Latin. This suggests that to simply be with Him is our primary occupation. David did, Daniel did, the Jews of Jesus' day did, the Lord did, and long after Him the Dessert Fathers did. Yet, so rarely do we pattern our lives after the way Jesus actually lived. These times reflected the value that He placed on continual and intimate relationship with His "Abba" (roughly trans. "Papa" in Aramaic). This bond was so close that the Perfect Son would do only what the Father was doing, and say only what the Father was saying throughout each day. It really was Jesus' primary occupation. And here I thought my occupation was as a Pastor, and soon-to-be Church Planter! For Jesus such times were like regular drinks of water in a spiritually dry land.
I've been dehydrated lately forgetting to drink, both physically and spiritually. I realize that an addiction to compulsive activity driven by duty, obligation, anxiety, unhealthy expectations, a "false-self" actually dulls my thirst. Then after far too long my parched soul drives me to take a 7- Eleven "Big Gulp" sized drink for neglecting the daily recommended 8 glasses of 8 oz. a day. My extended times in God's presence are also needed, and deeply satisfying--don't get me wrong-- but it doesn't make up for the many smaller cups of living water I need throughout each day.
This is core DNA for myself, my household, and the church plant. In fact, it's part of my first draft Church Plant Mission Statement: "drink deeply to be transformed in His presence." I'm reminded of the difference between aspired values and real values--and the test is seen in what I actually practice.
Ironically, it's in the solitude, silence and prayer of Daily Office that I get in touch with my real thirst. Yet, currently my needed set times with God are being severely tested. I see this as an opportunity to grow deeper in this transition, to establish a habitual practice, to be a guardian of the Church Plant values. But more importantly, as it says in Psalm 63:3a, "Because your love is better than life."
"O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water."
Ps. 63:1
On my Journey to the Well, I will have to take many sips each day, because waiting for the "Big Gulp" once in a long while will not sustain me for the long haul.
Please comment and tell me how you hydrate your soul--would love to hear from you!
