The curriculum at last week's summer camp, SEP Rockies, was "Rooted" and was beautifully delivered by our chapel speaker, Anthony Mullins. He talked about the life
cycle of a tree, starting with a seed that dies in the ground in order for the tree to sprout, the seedling struggling to push out of the ground to sunlight and then to push its roots deep in the soil to get nourishment and to hold on during storms; and finally to the point of maturity, which is bearing fruit and seed in order to start the cycle again.
I found a book called "Deep-Rooted in Christ:
The Way of Spiritual Transformation" by Joshua Choonmin Kang, a Korean
pastor in Los Angeles. It ties right in with that "Rooted" camp curriculum. I read these comments in chapter 5, and was reminded of the "mountaintop experiences" we have at our camps:
"Spiritual experiences and spiritual disciplines are similar, but they
have different outcomes...Spiritual formation isn't like a quickly
spreading fire; it's like a tree with deeply descending roots,
establishing a foundation for future growth and fruitfulness." (The
book is $10 at christianbook.com, if you're interested).
Kang's point is important. Most of us like spiritual experiences, because they're exciting, they give us energy, and they're memorable. But like birthday cake, we can't make them our entire diet. Growth and health, both spiritual and physical, need intentional and balanced nutrition. When we feel spiritually weak, seeking yet another mountaintop experience won't deepen our contact with and our reliance on Jesus. A steady, day-by-day diet of spiritual habits will feed our understanding of God and of our own needs.
Here are some examples of habits we can use to deepen our spiritual lives: Self-examination, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, shows us how we fall short of God's best for us and can help us see a way toward peace. Silence and solitude (turning away from all our distractions so we can focus on God) gives God space to hold an extended conversation with us. Generosity helps us release our fervent hold on our possessions and remember they all belong to God anyway. Memorization of scripture -- several verses at a time -- nourishes our thinking and cooperates with the Holy Spirit as he teaches us (John 16:13).
How about trying one of these practices today, and see how it helps you? If it's helpful, why not make it a daily, weekly or monthly habit? These and many others will help you be "Rooted" in God's love and life.
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