Spiritual Practices in Times of Crisis and Isolation: Study

In today’s post, we will look at maintaining the discipline of Study. Even in times of isolation, it is important to continue to grow in our knowledge and understanding of God, faith, and one another. We will also consider the importance of studying with others and ways we can continue to do this even as we maintain physical separation.

Spiritual Practices in Times of Crisis and Isolation: Music

For many people in the church, if you ask them when they most feel God’s presence in worship, they will say something about the music. Religious music, worship music, no matter the genre, is meant on some level to foster an experience of God’s presence. How many people have shed tears of joy during a particularly well done organ piece or choral anthem? Or, on the other end of the spectrum, how many have felt themselves pulled out of a time of worship by a discordant piece that does not seem to fit the moment?

Music has the ability to instill in us a sense of divine presence and majesty. And when we join together in song, we are given the opportunity to respond to God’s work in our lives. This is why many of the classic masterpieces we appreciate were originally written as religious pieces. It is why those of us who are Methodists are called “a singing people.” It is why we get teary when we hear voices that bring to mind angels. Music is an integral part of our faith.

Spiritual Practices in Times of Crisis and Isolation: An Introduction

With everything going on in the world right now, I know that there are those in need of support and guidance. Many people are feeling disconnected, out of sorts, and anxious. Some of you may be feeling alone and struggling with acute fear. And some may be feeling simply overwhelmed with all of their different emotions. This time of both crisis and isolation is affecting everyone in different ways, and can have an enormous impact on people’s mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

For over 15 years, I have been studying and teaching Christian spirituality. Drawing on my knowledge and experience, I am writing this series as an aid for those who are seeking ways to settle themselves and to maintain their spiritual well-being in our current situation. Over the course of this series, we will delve into practices that seem almost ideally suited to not only our present time but also to other times of calamity and uncertainty. Some of these are based on ancient practices with little adaptation. We will see that other of these practices are adapted in ways that would have been difficult if not impossible in previous generations. Each session will touch on practical approaches to these relatively broad topics.

Today, we will look briefly at what I mean when I talk about spirituality and introduce our upcoming topics.