“What benefit is there in gaining everything in the world, but losing your soul?” Jesus of Nazareth

“To be holy is to be home, to be able to rest in the house of belonging that we call the soul.” John O’Donahue

“The soul did not invent itself.  It is a presence from the divine world, where intimacy has no limit or barrier.”  O’Donahue

How do you care for your body?  Easy question.

How do you care for your soul?  Much more difficult.  How would you answer that? 

Traditionally many people would probably say something like, “I go to church on Sunday, pray sometimes, and occasionally read the bible.”  Nothing bad about that.  But does that really provide nourishment for the soul?

Take going to church, for example.  It can be very inspiring at times.  Even a good habit.  But does a once-a-week outing to a religious service provide everything needed for soul nourishment?  Highly doubtful.  In fact, it can, and has had the opposite effect on many people—namely being soul-sucking.

And what about prayer?  Does mentally scrolling through a laundry list of “asks” that we have of God really provide sustenance for our spirits?  Or is it more of a transactional item on our “to do” list in the hopes that perhaps God will hear us, and answer in a manner that is pleasing and profitable?

And reading the bible, well again it kind of depends on how we’re approaching it.  If we’re reading large chunks merely for education and information, as opposed to meditating on small portions or even singular words, perhaps the endeavor is remaining on the surface of our spiritual life, and not really penetrating and soaking into our spirits.

Let me ask another question:  How much of a priority is soul care for you?  How much time do you put in, and how much emphasis do you place, on nurturing your inner being?  And what does that practice look like?

If you need help with this, perhaps consider some tried and true ancient practices.

Centering Prayer This is a very simple practice that simply requires space and silence.  It involves paying attention to one’s breathing, having a sacred or special word or phrase that one focuses on, and becoming aware of God’s biding presence.  It is a way of calming one’s senses, trying to shut out both internal and external noise, and sitting with God. 

Lectio Divina  “Divine reading” is a way of taking small passages of scripture and focusing on what impression it makes on you.  It can be one verse, or a portion of a verse, or even one word.  Yesterday my focus was Psalm 8, specifically the part of God ordaining praise from babies and infants.  It can be anything that strikes you deeply, and provides something substantive to “chew on.”

Meditation/Contemplation  This can happen anywhere and anytime.  It doesn’t have to be in a sacred space, with a sacred pose.  In fact, walking is a GREAT way to meditate and contemplate.  It is merely a matter of focusing, or re-focusing, one’s attention on The Presence of God.

Inspirational Reading  I feel that this is overlooked or ignored.  My “conversion” if you will, was the result of picking up the book “Invitation to Love” by Thomas Keating.  Granted, the setting at St. Walberga retreat center was conducive to The Spirit working in this book.  But it was the message contained therein that introduced me to an entirely new way of viewing God, myself, and life.  There are SO many good books that serve to nurture and nourish our souls.  Many are the result of others just like us sharing their stories and insights into what God has done for them, and how.  The inspiration for these recent blogs is the book “Anam Cara” by O’Donahue.  Speaking of which, here is what he says about the significance of “soul care.”

“When you have moments on your own or spaces in your time, just focus on the well at the root of your soul. Imagine that nourishing stream of belonging, ease, peace, and delight.  Feel, with your visual imagination, the refreshing waters of that well gradually flowing up through the arid earth of the neglected side of your heart.  It is helpful to imagine this particularly before you sleep, Then during the night you will be in a constant flow of enrichment and belonging.  You will find that when you awake at dawn, there will be a lovely, quiet happiness in your spirit.”[1]

That, my friends, is care for your soul.

May yours be nourished and nurtured.

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[1] “Anam Cara.” By John O’Donahue.  p. 28