Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Strategic Monk

Home
Contemplative
Spiritual Practices From the Inside Out: Following Our Sacred Path

Spiritual Practices From the Inside Out: Following Our Sacred Path

Last updated on: September 20, 2019 at 6:53 pm by Greg Richardson

Spiritual Practices From the Inside Out: Following Our Sacred Path 2019-09-20T18:53:55-08:00 Greg Richardson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

14139799004_3af12bc0a5_z

Following Our Sacred Path

There is something about a Sacred path which draws us into following it. We want to find out where it will lead us. No one really wants to get distracted, hopelessly lost in the bushes or stuck in the mud.

The path we want to follow is clear, well marked, and easy to follow. We are drawn to a path where there are clear signs, maybe even with its own website or app. We would love to be able to ask questions and get an understanding of how this path works.

Some of us follow a path which begins with strong boundaries. We come to rely on what we have seen and on what our path has already taught us.

We start to get confused when our path wants to change its own rules or head off in a new direction.

Maybe the lessons we think we have learned were not the ones our path had for us.

Lessons From the Familiar

It can be easy for us to assume the path we have chosen is the right one. It becomes familiar to us and we believe we become adept at following it. We grow more comfortable with our path and see ourselves as developing expertise about paths.

There is a sense of accomplishment for us in becoming expert at following our paths. We have been doing this for some time and have learned a thing or two about paths. Not everyone could do what we have done. We may see ourselves as leaders among those who follow paths.

We believe we have mastered the art of following our Sacred path when, in fact, we have taken the first steps. Pretending we are riding in la Tour de France, we are still depending on training wheels to stay upright.

We have just begun to scratch the surface.

Our Paths Are New Every Morning

We are beginners. Our first steps are the start of a Sacred adventure. Like the quests of great heroes and heroines, our paths create themselves before us each day. Each morning, each moment, is full of spectacular potential. Our Sacred paths do not become mundane or boring because we never get used to them.

We do not master our Sacred paths. They master us and teach us lessons beyond our understanding.

The light draws us forward. The path stretches beyond the signs and markings, beyond the boundaries and walls, beyond what we can see. Where will they lead us?

Each morning is filled with a new curriculum of lessons to learn, a new map of places to explore.

Walking Our Everyday Paths

I walk as much as I can each day. Southern California is not an easy place to be a pedestrian. People drive two or three blocks to the grocery store or to see a doctor. It can be a challenge to cross a street in a crosswalk with the walk light. Walkers need to pay attention, not be distracted, and follow their path.

Some days I walk in familiar places. My wife and I walk laps around a local library. We take walks to run regular errands. I walk whenever I can to meet people and talk about spiritual life. My path takes me places where the weather allows me to walk all year long.

Walking generally makes getting places a pleasant experience. It has a human schedule, measured in strides. Walkers can look each other in the face, in the eyes, and smile. When we walk we see, hear, and smell things we cannot experience when we are driving.

Walking and Spiritual Life

We vary the pace of our walking to match the speed of our thoughts. When I am making connections and the pieces are fitting together in a flash I walk faster. As I reflect or ponder deep truths my walking tends to become more deliberate.

There have been times when, talking with someone about spiritual life, we walked together. Our verbal conversation fell away as we paid attention to our walking. Our eyes saw the clouds in the sky and the distant mountains. We heard the sounds of traffic in the street and overhead. The aroma of the coffee shops and the florist we passed caught our attention. We practiced a form of walking reflection, opening our awareness to the city around us.

The more we walk each day, the more of our path we notice and experience.

Our path opens before us, one step at a time. Spiritual life draws us forward, into its embrace.

Recognizing Our Sacred Path

It can be difficult for us to recognize the path which is drawing us toward it. Especially as markers and mileposts fall away and the training wheels come off, we may need help.

Many people find it helpful to talk with someone about the path on which they find themselves. They may gain practical advice from people who have explored similar paths. It may give them comfort and support just to talk to someone who will listen well.

We can put pressure on ourselves because we expect to know what we are doing. Our perception of our own expertise works against us.

Other people can help us listen to the lessons of our Sacred path.

We may also find people who help us see our paths more clearly. Our efforts to develop a complete understanding, to master our own path, may hold us back. Another voice can show us how our Sacred path is growing and turning, leading us in a new direction.

Our Sacred paths are not simple walking trails or even freeways. Is a path truly Sacred when it is fixed to the earth? Our paths demonstrate their Sacredness as they move us beyond walking, to begin flying.

Where will our Sacred paths take us today?

How will you recognize the path which is drawing you into it?

[Image by Kirt Edblom]

Greg Richardson is a spiritual life mentor and leadership coach in Southern California. He is a recovering attorney and university professor, and a lay Oblate with New Camaldoli Hermitage near Big Sur, California. Greg’s website is StrategicMonk.com, and his email address is [email protected].

Blog

Spiritual Practices

Previous Post

April 8, 2017

Spiritual Practices: What Makes This Such a Holy Week?

Next Post

April 13, 2017 Leading Like a Monk: Finding Our Rhythms

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Blog Book Reviews Everything Else Guest Posts Leadership Monastic Strategies Neighborhood Pilgrimages Sacred Stillness Spiritual Direction Spiritual Practices Work

Select a Month May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I am twelve stones taken from a riverbed and set up as a memorial to a miraculous crossing. What am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The memorial stones Altar stones The Stones of remembrance Bethel