Finding Faith ... in growing my faith formation

By Intern Pastor Devlyn Brooks

This past Saturday morning, for several hours I had the house all to myself. Normally, I sleep in on Saturdays to make up for long and hectic weekdays, but this particular Saturday I was up because our son had to work early. And once he was out the door, I found myself alone in a quiet living room, while everyone else left at home was asleep.

So, theology book in hand, I sat in our living room and listened to the routine creaks and groans of our house, the nearly silent movement of our cats from around the house and the quiet puppy whimpers of our Gus Gus, who was exhausted from a week of doggy daycare. That was all that one could hear in our otherwise normally very busy home. Shelley wasn’t busy in the kitchen or with one of her many organizing projects. The girls weren’t squealing excitedly as they do when playing together. And Carter wasn’t shouting at his gaming buddies in his downstairs bedroom.

Nope, on this Saturday morning, it was just me and the stealthy cats and a sleepy puppy. … And a theology book by 20th century monk and theologian Thomas Merton.

Our living room has a large, north-facing picture window that gives you a terrific view of what is happening outside at any moment. I have sat in my comfortable recliner and watched through this big window wild thunderstorms pound down rain, sparkling displays of lightning, powerful wind storms, and dazzling sunlit summer afternoons. … You name the weather phenomena, and I’ve seen it play out sitting in my recliner, watching it through my living room window.

But on this Saturday, in my quiet house, I sat there and watched a picturesque snowfall drift lazily to the ground through our gigantic viewing portal to the outside world. There was hardly any wind, and the snow didn't have much moisture in it. So the very light and large snowflakes floated easily on the breeze, twisting and twirling and taking their time to finally come to rest on the snowy ground.

It was about as peaceful of a morning that one could script.

My original plan that morning was to get cracking on that theology book which is part of this term’s homework while everyone else was away or sleeping. This kind of moment rarely happens with so many in our household!

But the beauty of the moment left me unable to crack open the book, and I sleepily contemplated the lovely snowfall and forgot all the other business of the day. … And it was wonderful! … In fact, it was breathtaking! … And it felt like I was enjoying a special moment just between our Creator and myself.

Coincidentally, my resolutions for this year include restoring healthy habits, including eating, exercise, and yes, balance. And restoring that balance means making time for quiet moments, such as what I experienced on Saturday.

In recent months, I’ve been fortunate that much of the reading that I’ve been doing for seminary includes some very practical theology books. And each and every one of them includes sections on making time to commune with God, with creation, with the “Oneness” of all around us, as God calls us to do. It goes without stating, but the more and more busy we become in our daily lives, the less and less time we find for growing our intimate relationship with our Creator. … We have a severe case of schedule-itis, and that makes it difficult to squirrel away quiet time to enjoy time with God. … And I’m as guilty as anyone.

I used to enjoy the 45 minutes or so it takes to walk our dogs around the neighborhood each night as a time of solitude. I would leash up the puppers, put in my earbuds with a good audio book, and then spend the next three-quarters of an hour enjoying what nature had to offer us, regardless of the season. But, unfortunately, I have to admit that the walks have increasingly grown to be a time to fret over how much it is that I have yet left undone for the day, rather than a time of restoration. … And to be truthful, all the anxiety has kind of spoiled the adventure each night.

And so, as part of the effort to restore some healthy practices back into my life, I am trying to find moments to get back to Sabbath moments. Little periods of time where I can appreciate the creation around me, or say some contemplative prayer, or even have an outright conversation with God. … I miss those times, and I need those times because they make me healthier.

Our scriptures support tell us that God sees each of us as precious creations, and part of enjoying being his children is practicing more “being” and less “doing.” … I mean, how else do we make room to grow our relationship with God?

So as this year continues to grind on, and we find ourselves busy with the dizzying demands of daily life, I wonder how you all are doing with finding time to be with God? Do you have daily routines such as devotional time? Or a quiet time set aside in which you read the Bible? Or a time in which you openly talk with God? … Are your Sabbath moments holding up? Do you find it easier or harder to set aside time for your spiritual growth nowadays?

Please share with me if you are willing to do so!

My prayer for you this year, Faith Family, is that you are able to find time to set aside for the growing of your faith. As with all of our other disciplines, faith formation is a practice, and if you don’t make time for it, you fall out of practice.

Until next time, blessings to you all!