Everyday spirituality Dr Terry Biddington Dean of Spiritual

Everyday spirituality Dr Terry Biddington Dean of Spiritual Life Lecturer in Practical Theology terrybiddington@winchester. ac. uk

There is religion and there is spirituality: • religious practice is often, but not inevitably, reserved for/focussed around Sundays and Holy Days • it’s a communal and collaborative experience • But personal religious practice/devotion can sometimes be neglected amid life’s busyness … Spirituality creates an individual focus that, approached intentionally, can inform and enrich both everyday life, religious practice and the life of the wider community

How does spirituality relate to religious practice? Do the Gospels -or the later Christian tradition- have any useful clues?

Jesus said: ‘I have come that [you] may have life: and have it abundantly. ’ and have it to the full’ and have it more abundantly’ life to the fullest’ life in its fullest measure’ life that is full and good’ (NRSV) (NIV, JB) (OB & JB) (CEB) (CJB) (ERB) John 10. 10 But what does it mean to live this ‘abundance’?

“The glory of God is a human being [who is] fully alive” St Irenaeus of Lyons What is the meaning of ‘fully alive? ’ What makes you ‘fully alive’? Let’s take a moment for silent reflection…

‘Living abundantly’ and ‘becoming more ‘fully alive’ are facets of our individual spirituality or spiritual journey. We can experience ‘the divine’/’God’ in every aspect of our daily living and in our everyday spirituality and so ‘become more fully alive’ or ‘live abundantly. ’ Everyone of us has our unique spirituality or spiritual journey: What does yours look like? ?

Our spirituality is a collage of different: inherited characteristics lived moments and experiences relationships daily practices and routines including prayer and silence treats and indulgences learned/acquired knowledge Spirituality is about our embodied existence our preferences, choices, the way we live our life our desire for justice and our connections to the natural world/planet

Gin & tonic Silence Music Family Nature Touch the sea Ideas/words Church bells Painting & colour Saying YES to life – risks and all! Spirituality is holistic meaning-filled practical daily living Everyone is different – so spirituality is varied, complex and subjective

What is your own experience? What are the essential ingredients of your own life/spirituality? • Which of these ingredients is absolutely indispensable – and what could you discard? • Are there ways in which you feel you need to grow as an individual?

Let’s begin with the fundamentals: Are you an introvert or an extrovert? ? ?

Now to explore the central ingredients of a life- affirming and flourishing spirituality: 1. Work 5 Relationships 2. Rest 6 Embodiment 3 Play/ ‘Pray’ 7 Ad-venture 4 Creativity 8 Social Justice

1. Work Are you happy with the balance in your life between work, rest and play? Are you always rushing and often exhausted? We always talk of “work-life balance. ” What does that tell us? How might you address this in the future?

2. Rest How do you rest each day? (Rest isn’t necessarily ‘sleep’) Is your rest an intentional action: or reactive to exhaustion? How might you address this in the future?

3. Play When did you last play? What is it that delights your soul? What is it that brings you pleasure and makes you feel really alive? How might you address this in the future?

4 Creativity How do you express your creativity? What does it feel like when you express your creativity? How might you address this in the future?

5. Relationships: made in heaven? What are your memories of being loved and liked? What do you think your friends value about you? How might you address this in the future?

6. Naughty or Nice? the delights of embodied experience Do you have a body or are you a body? What do you feel about the body that is you? What part does your embodied self play in shaping your spirituality? How might you address this in the future?

7. Ad-venture [‘Ad-venturam’ = ‘open to the future; open to possibility] Are you an ad-venturous person? When did you last have an ad-venture? What was it ? What was the last risk you took? How did it challenge you ? How might you address this in the future?

8 Social Justice A spirituality than enables each of us to flourish cannot exclude the needs of others or ignore the interdependent interrelationships we have with all living creatures. How does your spirituality enable you to do this? How might you address this in the future?

Spiritual Health Check Welcome to the Spiritual Health Check! Your spirituality Spiritual health is as important as our physical and mental wellbeing and our lives can be improved immeasurably –and surprisingly easily by improving our awareness of our spirituality.