Healing and Wholeness in Heart and Soul
Theme For Week Two in Lent
Reflection By Scott Stoner
The great ones in the realm of Spirit are so intensely alive because they are so deeply grateful.
- Brother David Steindl-Rast
Taking a whole-person approach to healing and wholeness, we will focus on different aspects of well-being over the next three weeks. This week, we will focus on healing and wholeness as it relates to our emotional and spiritual lives. Next week, we will focus on the physical dimension of well-being, followed by a focus on healing and wholeness in relationships the week after.
In yesterday’s reflection, Br. David Steindl-Rast wrote, “Humdrum equals deadness; surprise equals life.” As we focus on emotional and spiritual wellness this week, humdrum is a good description of what we sometimes experience in these two dimensions of our lives. Humdrum can manifest in our lives in various ways: boredom, loss of energy, lethargy, irritability, and a general loss of zest for life. These are just a few of the warning signs that the emotional and spiritual dimensions of our lives may need our attention.
We will explore several antidotes for humdrum this week, including two that Brother David strongly recommends: surprise and gratitude. Learning to welcome surprise and cultivating gratitude are two ways we can proactively nurture our hearts and souls.
Making It Personal: We invite you to begin a focus this week on emotional and spiritual well-being by pausing to reflect on these in your own life right now. What do you notice? In what ways do you notice a sense of humdrum? And in what ways do you feel a sense of aliveness?