by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Meditation

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

The Coquille River lighthouse in Bandon, Oregon first lit its fourth-order Fresnel lens on February 29, 1896, and protected the mouth of the Coquille River until 1939. Over the years, wind battered the lighthouse, and vandals defaced it until restoration work began in 1976. The problem? Fifty years later, the restoration is not complete.

Stating the obvious, if the lighthouse had continued in use, regular maintenance would have prevented the extensive deterioration.

I’m finding that as I age, it is easier to maintain something than restore it. The longer I stay away from taking care of my body, the harder it is to get back into shape. I dread going to the gym after a long trip. I regress to lighter weights and a slower pace on the stationary bike. Then I feel the pain the next day.

The same applies to our spiritual health. When we neglect our relationship with God, it becomes difficult to get back “in shape.” It is easier to maintain spiritual health than it is to restore it.

“On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.”
Psalm 145:5 English Standard Version

The psalmists knew the importance of staying spiritually fit. They speak of musing, of thinking about the things of God; his word, his promises, his power, and majesty. They do not merely remember what God has said and done they contemplate it. Lifting weights in the gym is more than one push or pull and calling it good. Staying spiritually fit is more than reading Scripture, then forgetting what we read. It is thinking about the things of God in the ordinary events of life. It is being present with your children and remembering their God-given uniqueness. It is sitting with a friend and listening to their pain as you offer prayers during the conversation. It is pondering the depth of Christ’s passion while seeking guidance in a tough decision.

Meditation isn’t mystical, but an ordinary exercise in staying spiritually fit.

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado