Spiritual Exercise:
Waking to Your Walk
Try to live this day without breathing. Ridiculous question? Not really. It is the only way that I know of to stress the same importance for walking the spiritual walk. Period. Don't breathe spiritually and something dies. The monastics knew this too well. They called the different hours of the night "The Divine Hours." The community rose to the tolling of the bell. Gathered and prayed and then returned to their "cells." Now that is quite the way to teach the priority of the spiritual life. Or, try starting every day without eating and see how far you get. That simple lesson teaches the need for spiritual food--and--prayer feeds us.
For me, I start the day the way I want to live it. I walk and pray. There is a set pattern for every day as the dog walks me (and in that order!). When I miss the walk, the day is just not the same. I have listed my tradition, its exercises below--see what you think.
Resource: Henri Nouwen, Making All Things New
Go ahead--take your spirit for a walk!
Spiritual Exercise for Morning Walk
Invocation
“O Lord,
Fill my lungs with the breath of this new day.
Go before me and stretch out my path with your grace.
Let me show forth my gratitude for this day for all I
meet.”
Amen
Intercessions
Prayers for my Family
(“O
Lord hear my prayer and let my cry come to you.” )
Prayers for the Sick
(“O
Lord hear my prayer and let my cry come to you.” )
For those who have Died
(“O
Lord hear my prayer and let my cry come to you.” )
For those in any Special Need
(“O
Lord hear my prayer and let my cry come to you.” )
For the World
(“O
Lord hear my prayer and let my cry come to you.” )
For Nature
(“O
Lord hear my prayer and let my cry come to you.” )
Lord’s Prayer
Benediction
“O Lord,
Fill my lungs with the breath of this new day.
Go before me and stretch out my path with your grace.
Let me show forth my gratitude for this day for all I
meet.”
Amen
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