The Daily Spiritual Dance
“This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.”
As I’ve shared previously, one of my favorite religious writers is Henri Nouwen. Nouwen was a Roman Catholic Priest, Professor, and Spiritual writer. Everything he wrote is worth reading. In his book, Reaching Out, he states, “The development of this inner sensitivity is the beginning of a spiritual life.” Figuring out how to develop this inner sensitivity is fundamental to our walk with God.
We develop this “inner sensitivity” through an interpersonal relationship with God. We are called to reflect on our actions and emotional responses. We must address what triggers our anger, passion, and compassion. Then, we focus on how God’s Spirit moves in the midst of our interpersonal relationships. The more we invite God into the daily dance of communication with others, the more spiritually sensitive we become. Ask yourself whether your communication is helpful, supportive, inspiring, or unhelpful, even destructive. Learning what motivates us, what needs to be emotionally addressed, and where to find our strength is the spiritual life.
Think back to the major decisions you’ve made in your life. Who you married, what line of work you decided on, how many children to have, what friendships you nurtured, etc.? Did others make those decisions for you, or did you take control? Why did you make the decisions you made? Can you articulate your reasons? What decisions am I facing right now, and how will I address them? When you prayerfully ponder these questions, you begin to develop “inner sensitivity.” But you are still only halfway home.
Finally, we need to listen. We need to develop sensitivity so we can learn to be subtle enough to hear God’s still small voice. Today, prayerfully consider the big questions in your history and the questions you face today. Then, rather than force your own answers, sit in solitude and listen for God’s still small voice. The more you listen, the more spiritually sensitive you become. Over time, you will become so sensitive to God’s voice that answers will come readily. Try it; it will work. Henri Nouwen knows how to instruct people’s spiritual life, but we are responsible for developing it within ourselves.
