Spiritual Practices for Hope in Uncertain Times
(Originally written in January 2009)
Last night my normally energetic husband, Paul, flopped down on the couch with a drink in his hand. It was only 9pm, but clearly he was down for the count. “What’s wrong?” I asked, “Are you feeling depleted?” Paul sighed and replied wryly, “I feel like I’ve been on a really long vacation and the whole thing sucked.”
A week ago his company had announced there would be layoffs. Then they added they wouldn’t announce who would get laid off until the following week. The days in between the two announcements stretched out long and unproductive as everyone waited for the other shoe to drop. People worried over lunch, speculated over the office dividers, and gathered in conference rooms to brainstorm what they would do next. Although Paul’s job was spared, many of his colleagues were let go, including our closest friends, who now have to leave their international post here in Denmark and return to the States.
These are indeed uncertain times, but it seems clear from national and international fervor that these are also times of hope. How can you reduce the anxiety of the one and nurture the reality of the other? Here are three spiritual practices that will soothe and strengthen your soul in times like these.
Walk in the Dark
“It’s always darkest before the dawn.” This is an old saying, but it’s been around so long because so often, it applies. If you are someone who is a kinetic or physical learner, this spiritual practice may be a good fit for you. Walk in the dark. Literally. Get up early, just before dawn and go for a walk. Watch the light creep up over the horizon. Notice how the details of your city, town, or country lane become visible as the sun rises. Watch how clarity comes with the dawn. Invite your soul to see this as the reality of God’s daily provision to us-the light comes into the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it. Light always wins. This then, is our hope — demonstrated every day in the simplicity and spectacle of a sunrise. Move your body through the darkness and into the light and see how it impacts your soul.
Ride out the Wave in Writing
For those of you who journal, you already know how powerful the pen can be – as a tool for inspiration and as an instrument in healing. Recently when I was feeling bogged down by insecurity, writer Laura Ruth Healy reminded me to “Write your way out of the dark. Use your pen as a flashlight.”
The Spirit has embedded wisdom and healing deep within your soul. Your intuitive self will connect with this wisdom and light the way out of the darkness and into the light of hope. Sit down with a blank sheet and a pen. Just start writing “I hope….” or “I am hopeful that…” It’s okay if nothing comes to you at first. Just keep writing that phrase over and over until words start to follow it. Trust that the Spirit is guiding your heart and telling you true things. Repeat as needed.
Breathe True Things
Sometimes when things feel unstable, you need support with every breath. That’s why I like mantras. Mantras are statements that affirm a positive reality in your life. I like to think of them as simple repeated prayers. Thirteenth Century Christian mystic Julian of Norwich is famous for one of my favorite mantras: “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” She wrote these lines after having a vision of in which whole world appeared as something the size of a hazelnut held in the hand of a loving God. A few years ago I stared using a mantra inspired by Julian’s vision, “In the hand of God, I lie.” One of the things I like best about this mantra that it can be said in one deep breath, half on the inhale and half on the exhale.
Anything can become a mantra – a passage from scripture, a line from a song or poem, a phrase that comes to you in prayer. Try breathing your mantra several times a day. Some good times to anchor yourself in your mantra’s reality are: at each meal; upon rising and at bedtime; or when you leave or arrive at work, home or school. In time the truth of your mantra will sink into your heart and become the hopeful reality of your living.
What spiritual practices do you have to nurture hope in times of uncertainty? Add to our giant pool of wisdom in the comments below.
12 comments
All such beautiful ideas.
Another thing I have learned, from my intimate relationship with tough times, is to pay attention to the little things.
I have:
kept a list of at least three things a day that made me happy. Sometimes it was tough to make my quota, sometimes my happy file floweth over.
taken a picture a day. often many more than one. there are beautiful things out there if you look for them. they turn up everywhere.
lately I am starting to draw a sketch from life once a day… or maybe not even once, maybe just every once in a while. when you pay attention to the line of a grape stem, you start seeing the wonder all around you. i think it helps to take up a project so you feel like you are growing as a person and being productive. it could be the photography or it could be learning to play guitar or cooking vegan, or growing a window garden.
also, my kids keep giving me stuff they find. rocks, berries, twigs… I think I’d like to collect these things somehow, a record of them. Perhaps a photo of them, laid out on a piece of paper.
also, have picnics. take walks. window shop. stop and listen when someone is playing music in a public place. sing. dance. spin with a child. people watch. go barefoot. stand in the rain… take advantage of the free sensual pleasures in life.
I love your husband’s description of how he is feeling—”a really long vacation and the whole thing sucked.” What a perfect analogy!
It has taken me a long time to learn this, and the learning process was a painful one, but I have finally embraced the idea that the most difficult moments in life can be the start of something new, exciting and very important. This sort of goes along with your idea about it being darkest before dawn. Another way to think about it is a dying off and pruning, which is necessary to make way for something new.
Have you read the book “A Tree Full of Angels” by Macrina Wiederkehr?
My most constant spiritual practice is to dance. Dance and let the joy of movement compost grief into inspiration. Besides personal expression (also writing, singing) I recently shared some spiritual tools that help me shift during tough times: http://practicalspirit.wordpress.com/2009/03/03/shift-happens/
Thanks for all the ways you help inspire, Rachelle!
I have that quote from Julian of Norwich posted on my easel, on my fridge, and next to my bed. It helps. I was thinking of tattooing it on my forehead, but I’ll probably just keep saying it over and over under my breath.
When I’m nurturing hope (like now) I look for ways to remind myself of God’s faithfulness. I re-read old journal entries, talk to friends who are good at reminding me that crises don’t last forever, and I listen to Dan Fogelberg and Billy Joel songs. Somehow God speaks to me through love songs from the late seventies.
And if all else fails, there’s meditation in a quiet room with a candle and prayer beads, but for some reason I only think of that option when I’m desperate. Funny how hard it is to quiet my mind…
My mother used to say always darkness before dawn. What a great blog. I follow you on twitter and will be visiting more often. Last night on tv a character used the term all will be well .I wouldn’t call it spiritual but when things get really crazy and uncertain I turn to my creative side and flourish. It’s a way of putting negative worrying energy into something good.
Hey, thanks for mentioning me. I am a great believer in writing my way out of darkness or despair or plain old exhaustion. Sometimes stepping outside, even just for a minute or two can clear my head like nothing else.
Thank you for all these wonderful ideas – ways to move through whatever is slowing you down…
The walking thing, definitely the walking thing. I struggle with insomnia, and sometimes a walk at 2am can be the most uplifting thing. You don’t even need the sunrise – most days it is enough to come in from the stillness of night to the warmth of home, with tired legs.
Oh, and make tea. Properly. Warm the cup. Let it steep. Warm your fingers. Drink the tea. It’s an act of self care, an act of ritual beauty, and a connection with the everyone else who has ever taken solace in a cup of tea.
i like to paint prayers
I am using Julia Cameron’s disciplines from ‘The Artist’s Way’ to form the backbone of my spiritual practices, especially now that I am officially bankrupt, unemployed and re-envisioning myself as an Artist/Writer than an office-worker.
Morning Pages
Artist’s Date
Walking
Paddling along the ocean’s edge
Lunching with seagulls
Little things with big mojo.
Rachelle,
This is a beautiful, thoughtful and most helpful post. I’ve been penning articles like this myself for various pubs that I write for. So many folks are feeling like your husband is. In Michigan, it has been severe. We are experiencing double digit unemployment. I wrote an article similar to yours titled, “Finding Peace Amid the Chaos” and I have it posted at my website. It includes the 3 lovely practices you’ve shared here, along with a few more. Here’s the link in case someone wants to read it. Blessings of peace to you and your beloved! I hope things work out soon!
http://www.awakenedliving.com/articles_finding_peace_amid_chaos.html
I love the idea of the first one, although I wonder if I’m the only person who would feel a little nervous out walking at this time when there is almost no-one about (at least in my neighbourhood).
For me, I need time alone during the day when I’m at work. Perhaps just five minutes in a nearby square at lunchtime. And I love browsing in bookshops, even when I don’t buy anything. There’s nothing quite like the feel of flipping the pages of a book through your fingers and wondering if it could be a new friend.
I just discovered you this morning….hmmm….I just looked at my clock on my computer to see if it was still morning :) The time 11:11 I love those type of things.
I have only skimmed this post…well…a little more than skimming…but I need to print it out so that I can digest it…& sit w/ it….& walk w/ it :)
I LOVE the idea of walking before dawn. OMG THANK YOU! I have been waking many times at 4 or 4:30 & laying there trying to go back to sleep. As I wrote that I wondered if I may be doing that spiritually also. Not really…but there is something there to absorb…to peel….
Now…I will jump out of bed at that time…bundle up….& go for a walk….
DELICIOUS!!!
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