Holiday time is upon us again - or at least upon those of us, unlike my parents, who are not already retired. (‘But that doesn't mean we're on holiday all the time!' they tell me.) Some of us have booked time out to give our stressed-out bodies a break, whether it's walking, golfing, dancing till the wee small hours or sitting in the sun. Others are more interested in giving the mind something new to chew on: maybe a tour of classical sites, art galleries or model railways. But what, I wonder - if anything - have you planned this summer to refresh your spirit?
In one way, it doesn't make sense for me to ask the question in that form. While human beings are made up of body, mind and spirit, it's not as if the three never talk to one another. While we're striding through the glens, a beautiful view can lift the spirit and remind us of our Creator. A painting or a piece of music may speak to us of God much more eloquently than the finest sermon. But my question remains: how will your spirit be rested, invigorated and sustained through the activities of recreation - of re-creation, indeed - you've planned for yourself this year? For, just like our minds and our bodies, our spirits need more regular and varied nourishment than a concentrated weekly dose on Sunday mornings could possibly provide. After all, they get a lot of exercise, just as a result of our living in the world. Consider the following examples.
Some of us are tempted to see the evidently chaotic and destructive aspects of our world as the way things must be, to see ourselves as powerless to change it, and to despair. If you are burdened by the sorrows of the world, Paul recommends that we take pains to notice the signs of hope, however small, that also exist, and to give God thanks for them, whilst remembering in prayer those ills that still remain to be righted.
Some of us are tempted to think that we have the whole responsibility of life on our shoulders, because no one else can be trusted to fulfil our duties properly. Our spiritual challenge may be to nurture the gifts of others, knowing that their way of doing things will be different from ours, and to pray for their success. And it takes real grace to recognise that when the time comes for our physical activity to decline, our prayer is urgently needed for the life of the church to grow and flourish.
Given such tough spiritual exercise, which none of us can avoid with a note from home, it only makes sense for us to plan spiritual re-creation, as well as physical and mental recreation, into our lives. Some people go on retreat. In spite of the name, this is actually an opportunity, a little like a diet or detox programme, to advance spiritually; to give time and space to the deeper dynamics of our lives. Retreats vary enormously from exploring the spiritual dimensions of a craft or leisure activity to guided times of prayer and silence; they take place all over the country, often in beautiful surroundings, and are definitely a Good Thing. However, spiritual re-creation doesn't have to be that structured. You can just put an hour aside, find a comfortable space for sitting or walking that won't tempt you into doing any number of things you should be doing, turn on the answer-phone, turn off the mobile, relax, and give God permission to recreate your spirit. It's worth it.