Blogging as a spiritual discipline and play
November 28, 2006, 09:00 PM | Discipleship
I'm
three months into this seminary class at Eastern
Mennonite University on
Spiritual Formation in Ministry
and
really enjoying it. The professors are terrific
teachers with tons of real ministry experience.
They're turning our class of nine into a small group.
The material requires we dig deep into hearts and
share our emotions, uncertainties, and fears with one
another. It's been difficult, painful, humbling, and
freeing at the same time. Class sessions involve open
discussions, tears, laughter, and support. A spirit
of grace and understanding has descended upon the
group, which I interpret as a gift from God.
The
course requires each student develop a
Rule of Life,
an ancient practice and discipline among Christians
and one being re-emphasized today. My Rule includes
daily scripture reading, scheduled prayer,
contemplative walking, and spiritual journaling. I've
never prayed so frequently and intensely as I do now.
We're encouraged to share our thoughts with others
and this blog is a vehicle through which I will share
some of what I'm writing and drawing in my pastoral
journal. People blog for a variety of reasons; some
to keep a record of their thoughts, others because
they believer their lives are important and have
value. I started this blog for other reasons. The
process of writing down my thoughts and feelings
helps distill them; sharing your perspective with
others helps shape my thinking, and journaling is a
way of allowing my inner creativity to be released
(besides music).
Blogging as a spiritual discipline? I think I prefer play instead. In Homo Ludens (Beacon, 1955), Johan Huizinga suggests that the ability to play may be more centrally characteristic of humanness than our capacity to think. It is certainly true that whole human beings need to know how to play and think. But I believe that journaling and blogging can be a discipline for dealing with life as well as an instrument of play.
I'm delighted when people comment on an entry here or there; your responses makes me feel understood and validates that you can relate to some of my joys, sorrows, fears, struggles, and weaknesses. Pastors are being encouraged to blog as one way to be transparent and allow others to see what's on our hearts and minds. There was a recent article in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania newspaper about Lancaster County pastors who blog. They mention Brian Miller, associate pastor at Sunnyside Mennonite Church, whose blog Just An Apprentice has been on my radar screen for years.
I also came across another neat blog - A Simple Desire - by Will Fitzgerald who publishes daily commentary on the scripture verse in Mennonite Media's Third Way Cafe website. You might want to check A Simple Desire out. Fitzgerald doesn’t claim to be a theologian, (although he reads Greek) so he tries to write honest first reactions, thoughts of songs, poetry and situations he has lived through.
Blogging as a spiritual discipline? I think I prefer play instead. In Homo Ludens (Beacon, 1955), Johan Huizinga suggests that the ability to play may be more centrally characteristic of humanness than our capacity to think. It is certainly true that whole human beings need to know how to play and think. But I believe that journaling and blogging can be a discipline for dealing with life as well as an instrument of play.
I'm delighted when people comment on an entry here or there; your responses makes me feel understood and validates that you can relate to some of my joys, sorrows, fears, struggles, and weaknesses. Pastors are being encouraged to blog as one way to be transparent and allow others to see what's on our hearts and minds. There was a recent article in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania newspaper about Lancaster County pastors who blog. They mention Brian Miller, associate pastor at Sunnyside Mennonite Church, whose blog Just An Apprentice has been on my radar screen for years.
I also came across another neat blog - A Simple Desire - by Will Fitzgerald who publishes daily commentary on the scripture verse in Mennonite Media's Third Way Cafe website. You might want to check A Simple Desire out. Fitzgerald doesn’t claim to be a theologian, (although he reads Greek) so he tries to write honest first reactions, thoughts of songs, poetry and situations he has lived through.
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