Practicing Resurrection¹means that God’s intention has become the human desire, that the divine dream is now the new vision that guides our way of seeing and being in the world. At its core God’s intent and/or dream is to share God’s aliveness with that which and those whom God has created when there are so many peddling cheap imitations and calling it life.

Paradoxically, as the Shakers knew when they sang “Tis a gift to be simple, tis a gift to be free,” practicing simplicity (or simplifying our life) enlivens and frees us, and brings us around to where we ought to be (“ought” here referring to attunement with God). Simplciity is a natural aspect of contemplative awareness and the contemplative life. In ancient cultures contemplation (con-with, + templum- temple) referred to aligning life on earth with life in the celestial temple where the Divine and the heavenly hosts were believed to abide. Voluntary simplicity and deliberate, simple living help attune us to that which is essential and gives life and real freedom so that we can resist and dismantle the tyranny of the dominant culture’s “shoulds,” and become together the temple of God’s presence on earth as it is in heaven.♦

Practice:

In our frenzied, consumer-culture, Advent is a great time to intentionally practice simplicity. Be intentional about a way or ways that you will consciously enter into this special season more simply.

¹ NB: The Almond Tree began as a poor man’s epistles sent by email attachments to members of The Human & the Holy (H&H)spiritual formation community which I began in 2003 in Orange, CA. I started sending these reflections more regularly in 2009. Each year of H&H had a theme and each monthly gathering a sub-theme. I was writing as the spiritual guide of the community and the tone reflects this. If you are wondering why I’m writing about Practicing Resurrection in Autumn and Winter it is because it was our 2009-2010 theme.