Articles by Scott Owings at Heartlight

What the Dying Reveal to Us about the Trinity

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Stillness is what creates Love
Movement is what creates Life
To be still
Yet still moving --
that is everything. (Do Hyun Choe)

It's a great mystery and grace that no matter where we are in our journey, no matter what we've done (good or bad), God calls us to movement. And yet, sometimes we feel stuck: unable to move, afraid to move, too weary to make a move towards God or with God into the world.

A year or so ago, after a long season of "stuckness," I sensed a nudge or prod to move on from church ministry to be a chaplain with hospice. It hasn't been an easy move and yet God has been teaching me a great deal from the dying: not only about myself but about others and God.

The dying have much to show us, and one of those lessons has been surprisingly about the Trinity. I don't know about you, but Trinity for me used to mean "two dudes and a bird." (This phrase is in no way meant to convey irreverence or disrespect for the Trinity, but to indicate how shallow our human understanding of something so divine truly is.) How helpful is that?

As I got a little older, I heard that the Trinity is one substance with three forms - for example in the physical world: ice, water, and steam. When I went to grad school, I learned a few lofty, conceptual theories about the Trinity. None of that has been all that practical or life-changing. Trinity is not static or conceptual. Trinity is not an "it." To reduce the Trinity to a propositional statement leads to a lifeless body.

It has been from the dying, and several patients in particular, that I've begun to glimpse a new angle on what I like to call "trinitarian movement." And this Trinitarian movement is personal and missional.

After all, Scripture teaches the Father sent the Son; the Son sent the Spirit; the Spirit sends the church into the world ... and eventually sends us back to the Father. In a nutshell, this whole notion of "being sent" is the guiding principle of the gospel of John (used some 30x) and I believe an important, and often overlooked, dynamic of the Trinity.

This is where the dying can help us. Of course, the dying don't move like you or me. They aren't full of activity. They aren't busy, consumed by self-importance or worried about work or school. Rather, because of sickness and disease, the dying show (rather than tell) how one can be still, yet still moving. The dying are about to make the biggest move of their life: moving from this body through the "Door to the Great Unknown." And behind that Door is a vastness, a Love, which is beyond what we can ask or imagine.
As one is still, preparing to move through the great Door, from God and to God, I've found the dying have much to show about life -- how to live and move more fully, more contemplatively, in the here and now.

Take Fran, an Alzheimer's patient who isn't given to many words. While in the hospital and on the verge of dying, I went into her room, aware that she was barely with us. I stayed a few minutes, and even though she couldn't say a word (and seemed to be asleep), I decided to pray before leaving. At the Amen, she did something I'd never seen her do over the past 8 months. She made the movement of the Cross -- a blessing of the Holy Trinity. A deep symbol, beyond words, that Father, Son, and Spirit are always present.

And then there was Bill, a poor man from the country. A person for whom I developed a deep fondness. On the day before his death, the family and Bill were anxious, heavy with dread, and seemingly unable to move. Before leaving, I asked the family to get up and gather around for prayer. I don't understand why, but there was something about that movement that unlocked their emotions. They told stories and laughed and prayed and blessed. The laughter was best of all, providing healing for the patient and family (and for me).

One of my favorite mystic writers, Meister Eckhart said it this way about the Trinitarian movement of laughter: "When the Father laughs at the Son and the Son laughs back at the Father, that laughter gives pleasure, that pleasure gives joy, that joy gives love, and that love is the Holy Spirit."

Finally, I'd like to mention Gayle, a middle-aged woman suffering from painful, pancreatic cancer who showed me a move I will never forget. In her final moments, the family asked that I pray. As I did so, she surprisingly leaned towards me, like a flower that wilts at the end of the day. A single tear from her eye dropped, and she breathed her last. It was the most sacred, still movement I've ever experienced. In her dying move, I experienced a most powerful sermon, one that reminded me of Jesus' words: "[C]onsider the lilies ... for not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed like one of these."

When we are brought to a place of stillness (and often it takes failure, or disease, but prayer and silence can do it as well), we are able to see and hear the movement, or dance, of the Trinity. As Thomas Merton wrote, "God invites us to a dance ... we don't have to take the lead but we do have to move, step by step."

My prayer and hope is that we will accept the Trinity's invitation to move with stillness. To help with that, I encourage hanging out with someone who is elderly or on the verge of dying. Visit a nursing-home, take a grandparent to lunch, volunteer with hospice. If that's not possible or your cup of tea (or even if it is), maybe you could practice the three unconventional disciplines or movements I've mentioned: making the sign of the cross as a blessing to the Trinity, telling stories and laughing with those you love, and silently observing and contemplating the movement and beauty of a flower or a child of God in the waning moments of life.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
The love of God,
And the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you (2 Corinthians 13:13).

Exercising the Spirit: Rule of Life

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Is there anything I can do to make myself spiritual?
As little as you can do to make the sun rise in the morning?
Then of what use are the spiritual exercises you prescribe?
To make sure you are not asleep when the sun begins to rise.

(Anthony de Mello)

Over the past year, I have written about various spiritual exercises (see the links below) that have been practiced by believers through the ages. These articles were not intended to produce guilt or to insinuate that doing them is the secret key or requirement for spirituality. Rather, like the story above suggests, spiritual disciplines are important for they make space in our busy lives, awakening us to the Presence who is active and living and constantly inviting us to "become partakers of the divine nature." (2 Peter 1:4)

The Spiritual Disciplines (and there are many more besides the ones I have written about) not only train and discipline us for love and good works, they provide nourishment and delight for our hungry souls. As the Psalmist proclaimed, so we, too, can come to enjoy the rich feast that God provides for our souls.

My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,
and my mouth praises you with joyful lips
when I think of you on my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night. (Psalm 63:5-6)

While spiritual practices such as centering prayer, silence, and hospitality can strengthen our spirit and provide food for our souls, the reality is most of us can profit from having a "Rule of Life" to keep us regular and accountable. Having such a "rule" can hold us accountable in either avoiding the spiritual disciplines or overindulging. The key is balance that is enhanced by a graciously ordered "rule." In Marjorie Thompson's excellent book, "Soul Feast," she states:

Athletes, musicians, writers, scientists, and others progress in their fields because they are well-disciplined people. Unfortunately, there is the tendency to think that in matters of faith we should pray, meditate, and engage in other spiritual disciplines only when we feel like it.

As this year and series of articles comes to a close, I want to encourage you to write your own "Rule of Life" for the coming year, using the suggestions below as a guide.

Plan a few hours (or even a day) away from home in order to discern your "Rule of Life" for the coming year.

Spend an ample amount of time in silence, Lectio Divina, and prayer. A few suggested passages for reflection are Psalm 63, Matthew 5:3-12, and 2 Peter 1:3-11.

Reflect on and write down your honest evaluation of how well you practiced the spiritual disciplines this past year. You might want to ask, which spiritual practice energized you the most? Which one did you find enticing but couldn't seem to get around to doing? Which one(s) repel or scared you?

There is nothing wrong with exercising in ways that feel comfortable to you. However, seek to discern why some spiritual practices resonate with you and why others do not.

An important question to ask is, in what area of my life do I believe God wants me to grow? After identifying this, spend some reflecting on what practice(s) might make room for growth.

Consider and write down what exercises you want to commit to for this year. This is not to limit you or make you feel "stuck." Rather, listing the handful of spiritual practices that you want to commit to can encourage you to stay regular and disciplined in your walk with the Lord.

Write down your "Rule". (Some have found it helpful to organize one's "Rule" by plans for the day, week, and month, quarter, and year.

After you write your "Rule," (remembering that "less is often more"), be sure to share your plan with a trusted friend or spiritual guide. You might ask this person, based on what you know about my personality, stage in life, and surroundings, how feasible and advisable do you believe this rule is?"

Introduction to Exercising the Spirit

Exercising the Spirit: Lectio

Exercising the Spirit: Silence

Exercising the Spirit: Meditation

Exercising the Spirit: Breath Prayer

Got Your Spiritual Trainer?

Exercising the Spirit: Generosity

Exercising the Spirit: Fasting

Witnessing

Exercising the Spirit: Witnessing

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0600

Little Johnny was trying out for a part in the school play. His mother knew that he had set his heart on it but she feared he would not be chosen. On the day the parts were given out, Johnny, back from school, rushed into his mother's arms, bursting with pride and excitement. "Mother," he shouted, guess what! I've been chosen to clap and cheer."

(Anthony de Mello)

As the story above indicates, it is essential for disciples of Jesus to rethink our role in the great story of God -- prepared at any moment to give our applause to God. The Apostle Peter encourages his readers with these helpful words that have much to say about how we give our applause:

Always be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is within you; yet, do so with gentleness and respect (1 Peter. 3.15).

Be prepared:
The time will come when you will be asked (whether by friend or foe) to give an answer for what "makes you tick." Like an athlete, you must prepare for "game time"—that critical moment when someone notices how you are living and asks for an explanation. Of course, that doesn't mean you should never take the initiative to share your faith. What it does mean is that your witness will likely be more effective if you live in such a humble yet magnanimous way that others ask about your life. And when that time comes, you must be prepared to answer!

Be honest:
In our media-driven, Hollywood-crazed culture, banality reigns supreme. "I just want the 'real deal'", people often lament. Therefore, when asked what makes your life different, it is essential that you speak honestly and openly, remembering out loud what your life used to be like before Christ set you free from the gods of this world, including your own selfish ambition and pride.

Be decent:
In the passage above, Peter admonishes his readers to answer others with "gentleness and respect." This is crucial and must not be overlooked. Sure, we must be bold and, of course, our testimony must be accurate. However, we must also be decent, remembering what our mothers always told us: "It's not what you say; it's how you say it." Or to paraphrase Paul, "if I know the right answers to all of life's questions, and can witness eloquently to my salvation but have not love, it counts for nothing."

Like the other spiritual disciplines, witnessing is a spiritual practice that takes intentionality, not to mention the guidance of the Spirit and the accountability of fellow believers. Here are a few exercises that might help to prepare you in the important work of a witness.

Prepare your response. Towards the aim of being ready to witness, write down on one page or less, "Why you are a Christian." As you prepare, you might contrast how you once lived (or what your "thought life" was like) with now. Remember, when asked about your hope, others are not wanting a long sermon full of platitudes or clichés but a personal, honest story.

Practice with a friend. Like any exercise—spiritual or physical—the practice of witnessing can be enhanced by a spiritual friend or guide. Therefore, you might want to ask someone you respect to listen to or read your testimony and give you honest feedback about whether it sounds authentic, compelling, and applauds Jesus.

Seek to be gentle and respectful. One way to work on this is be present to those that God places in your path on a regular basis—especially with your family. As this old adage goes, "people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."

Pray. Ask the Lord to give you opportunities to witness, to have eyes to see the people he is bringing into your midst, and to speak with compassion. As you go through the day, you might try praying (silently and with eyes opened wide) the prayer of Teresa of Avila, "Lord, love the world through me."

See previous exercises:

Introduction to Exercising the Spirit

Exercising the Spirit: Lectio

Exercising the Spirit: Silence

Exercising the Spirit: Meditation

Exercising the Spirit: Breath Prayer

Got Your Spiritual Trainer?

Exercising the Spirit: Generosity

Exercising the Spirit: Fasting

Exercising the Spirit: Fasting

Sun, 15 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0500

A bear paced up and down the twenty feet that was the length of his cage. When, after five years, the cage was removed, the bear continued to pace up and down those twenty feet as if the cage were there. It was. For him!

(Anthony de Mello)

Milan Kundera, the brilliant Czech author, poignantly describes in his novel "Slowness," how the western world demands and is enamored by speed -- think about our culture's insatiable desire for faster computers, faster athletes, and fast food. And while speed and efficiency are not inherently bad, the consequence has been an ever-increasing sluggish, forgetful, and imprisoned spirit. This is true among Christians as well. William Wordsworth, in prophetic fashion, said it this way:

The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and Spending we lay waste our powers.

As followers of Christ, it is no small task to avoid the "getting and spending" frenzy that Wordsworth critiques, much less to live contemplatively. However, if we follow our culture's current trajectory, choosing to follow the fast course of this world, we run the risk of losing a great deal -- the mind of Christ, the awareness of Father -- God's presence, and freedom in the Spirit.

So, if the problem is "the world is too much with us," what are we to do? Simply put, we need less, not more. One practice or exercise to slow us down and awaken our spirit is the ancient discipline of fasting.

Fasting is a practice that has gained some traction in our health-crazed, therapeutic culture. And while there are physical and emotional benefits to going without food for a period of time, the real motive and blessing is spiritual. As we learn from those who have gone before us -- like Elijah, Jesus, and the early Church -- fasting is an exercise that awakens our spiritual senses and humbles us before Almighty God. Like the other disciplines, fasting is not easy and may be painful, especially at first. However, exercising our spirit by abstaining from what we so often take for granted will remind us of the source of every good and perfect gift.

While fasting from food is the norm, there are other things from which we can fast. Practices or activities such as reading, shopping, music, TV, even talking or sex (1 Corinthians 7:5), can be abstained for a few hours, or even days. The focus is not to punish the body, much less to call attention to our fast (Matthew 6:16-18). Rather, the point is to go without something we need or desire, namely food, so that we can remember the One from whom all blessings come.

Here are some thoughts to remember if you feel led to spend a day, or part of day, in a fast from food.

Choose a time to abstain from food for the sole purpose of humbling yourself before God. (If you are a nursing mother or ill, it is highly recommended that you not fast from food.)

Do not eat a large meal before you fast thinking, "I'll stock up for the fast." Rather, eat a light meal.

Begin your fast with Scripture, silence, and prayer, speaking to the Lord about your desire to learn and to grow.

You might want to keep a journal through your fast, noting, for example, what questions or decisions you are facing, how you are reminded that the world is too much with you, and how the hunger pangs affect you.

Be sure to drink lots of liquids during your time of fasting!

When you have hunger pangs, speak to the Lord about what you are experiencing.

Pay attention to what the Lord may be showing you. Remember: it is when we are weak that we often notice how strong he is.

End your fast with a light meal, thanking the Lord for what you have experienced.

See previous exercises:

Introduction to Exercising the Spirit

Exercising the Spirit: Lectio

Exercising the Spirit: Silence

Exercising the Spirit: Meditation

Exercising the Spirit: Breath Prayer

Got Your Spiritual Trainer?

Exercising the Spirit: Generosity

Exercising the Spirit: Hospitality

Sun, 27 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0500

To a disciple who was attempting forms of spirituality that bordered on the bizarre the Teacher was heard to say, "Holiness is a mysterious thing: The greater it is, the less it is noticed."

(Anthony de Mello)

An 18th century icon of the Holy Trinity was painted by the Russian artist Andrei Rublev. It was inspired by the mysterious but wonderful story of hospitality found in the Torah (Genesis 18). As you may recall, three strangers appear at the home of Abraham and Sarah and are treated royally, as if they were God himself. And that, in fact, is what the Genesis narrative and Rublev's painting wants us to see.

Hospitality, as practiced by Abraham and Sarah, blesses God and in turn brings a surprise blessing to us!

Hospitality is indeed a lost art, practice, and virtue. Our lives are busy -- full of noise, crowded with appointments, ballgames, deadlines, and numerous church activities. Hospitality takes time and an unhurried presence, something few, if any of us, have these days. Tragically, when hospitality is eliminated or neglected, the Trinity's presence is missed!

The good news is that hospitality can, and must, be reclaimed. Call it what you will, but we must slow down, creating "down time," "family time," and "unhurried leisure" so that hospitality becomes possible. This will not be easy and will likely require a reprioritizing of our busy calendars. While hospitality takes great intentionality and can be costly, the rewards are without measure-far greater than we can ever imagine! Consider what the Hebrew writer said when he wrote:

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2 NRS)

This passage confirms what the Genesis 18 story highlights: when we welcome guests or strangers into our midst and treat them with kindness, we are blessing God. Seldom will we recognize with our physical eyes a guest as the face of God; however, in a very real sense this is reality, the meaning behind the sacred symbol of hospitality.

The story of Abraham and Sarah declares another mystery about hospitality. That is, as we show hospitality to others and seek to bless them, we are in turn blessed by God. Make no mistake: I am not saying we practice hospitality so that we might benefit. However, God is present in each person -- even in the least and the last ... perhaps more so! Unexpectedly, God also uses the guest to become in a sense the host -- that is, the one who often brings the greater blessing. This happens in Genesis 18 as the Three not only are served, but serve, bringing laughter into the home by the long-awaited promise of a child.

Like all the disciplines, hospitality is a spiritual exercise and one that takes effort and practice. But, hospitality is more than worth any effort we might exert, for not only will it strengthen our spiritual muscles, it will also bring a delightful blessing to God, others, and ourselves.

In closing, here a few concrete exercises you might want to try as a means by which you can grow in the grace of hospitality.

Look for a guest at church and invite them to lunch, asking them to tell their story and share yours as well. As Eugene Peterson points out in his fascinating book Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places, "Stories are verbal acts of hospitality."

Have an Ice Cream party in your neighborhood, asking each person to bring their favorite flavor.

Be a mentor for a youth.

Volunteer to be a guide for recently arrived foreigners in your city.

Host an exchange student or volunteer to take an exchange student on a tour of your favorite site.

Invite someone that you don't know well into your home for a meal or dessert.

Last-but certainly not least-seek to "be present" to each person you encounter. Simply being aware of others, looking them in the eye, and welcoming a stranger into your space may be the most important and neglected hospitable practice of all!

See previous exercises:

The Spirit of Generosity

Got Your Spiritual Trainer?

Introduction to Exercising the Spirit

Exercising the Spirit: Lectio

Exercising the Spirit: Silence

Exercising the Spirit: Meditation

Exercising the Spirit: Breath Prayer

Exercising the Spirit: Generosity

Sun, 30 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0500

One day Nasrudin asked a wealthy man for some money.

"What do you want it for?"

"To buy an elephant."

"If you have no money, you will not be able to maintain the elephant."

"I asked for money," said Nasrudin, "not advice."

(Anthony de Mello)

In our culture of "zero sum gain," where the bottom line is the bottom line, the story above sounds like foolishness. After all, who hasn't heard the adage, "Give a man a fish and he'll be hungry tomorrow; teach him to fish and he'll never grow hungry" While pragmatic advise, it simply is not the gospel.

Jesus said it this way, building on the Old Testament plea to be generous.

"Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow" (Matthew 5:42).

"Be generous and lend them [the poor] whatever they need" (Deuteronomy 15:8).

When Jesus (and Moses) uttered these words they were likely shocking. After all, the economic culture of first century Palestine was made up of, primarily, working class peasants with very little expendable income. So, when Jesus said, "Give to those who ask," they wouldn't have been thinking, "Will this effect my 401-k?" but rather about the next meal on the table. Nonetheless, Jesus' call—then and now—was to be generous, regardless of how the recipient might use the gift or how much we might have in the bank.

And the reason for such counter-cultural, strange advice?

The gracious generosity of God, seen most beautifully in the Incarnation!

It is simply amazing to think that God gave the greatest gift of all, his very nature, with the possibility of eternal life forever, and many—far too many—would refuse or squander it. And yet, such is the nature of radical-no-strings-attached generosity!

That's not to say God wants his generosity to be spurned or not appreciated. And of course when we seek to be generous, we desire in our heart of hearts that nothing be wasted. The real bottom line, however, is we are to be generous, not expecting anything in return, simply because it's part of what it means to be a child of God. As we seek to put on this virtue of generosity, not expecting any immediate reward or even to be thanked, we give the Spirit space to conform us into Christ's generous identity, to the glory and praise of Father-God.

So, how can we foster a more generous way of life? Like the other disciplines, it takes practice—that is, a willingness to start where we are with hopes that, through time, grace, and experience, generosity will become a way of life. Here are a few practical suggestions that you might try on for size.

Pack a few non-perishable snack-bags, keeping them in your car and looking for opportunities to give them to those in need. (See Heartlight's article on care bags and also the recommendations of our readers for things to put in them.)

Start a missions envelope, putting in, for example, 10% of any unexpected income (i.e., bonuses, tax refund, birthday gift, etc.). Then, every six months (and/or when opportunities arise for spontaneous giving) make an anonymous gift to the missionary of your choice.

Make a list of your blessings, thanking God for the experiences, people, and things that are tangible reminders of God's generosity in your life. The idea here is, as we remember how generous God has been with us, we can't help but look for ways to show our generosity to others!

It could be said that generosity gives birth to simplicity and simplicity makes generosity possible. One practice that can foster both is this: when you receive a new shirt, or dress, or book, give one away. Not only can this be a blessing to others but it can be a tangible, though perhaps small, step of not accumulating more.

Invite someone to lunch, coffee, or over to your home for a light snack. It doesn't have to be extravagant or expensive. Remember, it's the [generous] thought that counts!

See previous exercises:

Got Your Spiritual Trainer?

Introduction to Exercising the Spirit

Exercising the Spirit: Lectio

Exercising the Spirit: Silence

Exercising the Spirit: Meditation

Exercising the Spirit: Breath Prayer

Got Your Spiritual Trainer?

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Said a disappointed disciple, "Why has my life yielded no fruit?" "Could it be that you lacked the courage to shake the tree?" said the Trainer benignly.
(Anthony deMello)

In our health-crazed and image-driven society, having a "fitness trainer" has picked up momentum. The idea seems to be that if you want to have a fit and firm "bod," a tough but caring guide is needed to provide a training regimen -- to encourage, and to hold accountable.

While there is profit in physical training (and in having a fitness trainer), as Paul writes to Timothy, spiritual fitness should be the top priority of a Christian (1 Timothy 4:8). And just as some have found it helpful to have a physical trainer, those who desire to grow spiritually, may find it beneficial to have a Spiritual Trainer.

Having a Spiritual Trainer is actually not new. Joshua had Moses. Elisha had Elijah. Naomi had Ruth. Timothy had Paul. And, of course, the Apostles had Jesus. The truth is we all need help; we all need the guidance, friendship and, yes, sometimes tough love from someone who has been around the block a time or two. The sad, reality, however, is that in our individualistic, "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps" mentality, very few of us have a Spiritual Trainer (also known as a Soul Friend, Guide, or, by the classical term, Spiritual Director).

Unfortunately, many Christians are too proud to ask for help; to seek out a wise and seasoned guide to aid on the journey. Equally troublesome, those who should be able to serve in the role as a Spiritual Trainer are either too busy, or immature, or have seldom had a Trainer either. Also problematic is that expectations of such a relationship are often unrealistic. That is, those wanting a Trainer can have naive expectations; often wanting an immediate "fix" and/or thinking one's Guide has all the answers. Also, those who are willing to serve as a Trainer can sometimes assume their role is to be "Answer Man" or the one able to fix all the problems.

Despite these and other potential pitfalls, the discipline of having a Spiritual Trainer or Director may well be the most needed, and perhaps neglected, spiritual exercise of all. Of course, the Spirit of Christ is ultimately the one who trains, directs, and provides the growth. All good trainers who are worth their salt know this innately. However, we just can't underestimate how crucial it is to have someone ask us questions about our spiritual life (e.g., How's your prayer life really going? How are you treating your wife/husband?), as well as the gentle reminder of what we may be missing, either the fruits or delusions.

How does one go about finding a Spiritual Trainer?

Ask
Ask the Spirit to open your eyes to someone you know -- or perhaps a friend of a friend -- who might help you in your spiritual journey.

Seek
Don't become discouraged or give up if no one comes to mind or even if the person you'd like to companion you says, "No." It may be that, for whatever reason, there is other work you need to attend to first and/or that God has someone else in mind. In addition to praying, you might want to ask a respected, older person if they know of someone who could be a Spiritual Trainer for you. If this proves unsuccessful, you might contact another church or nearby monastery.

Find
God is good to provide the person you need, when you need it. If the person is a trained Director, they will know what to do, how often to meet, etc. If they have never served in this role, set out some mutual expectations. For example, most have found it helpful to meet monthly for one hour. For more information on what should happen in a Spiritual Training session, you might want to read Trustworthy Companions.

And what actually should a Spiritual Trainer do?

Some of you who are reading this article may already be functioning in this role, whether formally or informally. Here are a few things you can do if you sense a prompting that you are (or could be) a Trainer for others.

Ask
Ask the Lord if there is someone who might need you to be their Spiritual Trainer and tell him you want to be ready, if that is his will. There are people longing for someone to approach them and say, "I see Christ at work in you and if you need me, or just want someone to talk with, I'm here to listen and pray for you." If that seems too pushy, you might consider spending a season of prayer about this, asking the Lord to bring to you someone who could profit from your guidance. This is dangerous and risky, so watch out if you choose this approach!

Seek
If and when you meet with someone in this capacity, you might want to begin by seeking out what the other person wants or needs. If you don't think you can help, or feel that someone else would be better, say so! You are neither the Savior nor the Ultimate Trainer; Christ is! What you might say is, "While we meet, you can talk about anything and I will listen-not only to what you are saying but to what the Spirit may be saying. That is, I'm not here to fix you but rather to seek Christ with you, realizing he is always in our midst." It may become apparent that you are not the one to help or that there is psychological or physical assistance that is needed. If that is the case, do not hesitate to speak about this.

Find
It should go without saying but no one should serve in the role as Spiritual Trainer or Director who does not have their own wise Guide. We all have blind spots and are in need of guidance and training, especially if in roles of leadership. We remember the admonition, "He who thinks he stands, take heed, lest he fall." As you meet with your Trainee (and usually once a month for an hour is adequate), a big part of your role is to find, and point out, those places of grace, or self-deception, that may be overlooked.

Without doubt, the call is to grow up into Christ and this involves not only grace but intentional, disciplined living that can be enhanced by a spiritual trainer.

See previous exercises:

Introduction to Exercising the Spirit

Exercising the Spirit: Lectio

Exercising the Spirit: Silence

Exercising the Spirit: Meditation

Exercising the Spirit: Breath Prayer