Time to clean house and begin anew

Is your spiritual practice really a Risk Management program? It might be time to rethink and reset how we engage in our spiritual beliefs and practices. After all, it’s time for spring cleaning so why not embark upon a spiritual cleanse? And, no, you do not have to go to a spa — although that might be nice.

March is a month with many holy days. For the Christian tradition, there is Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. The Jewish faith will celebrate the first night of Passover and the Hindus celebrate Holi while the earth-based traditions welcome Ostara. It is a busy month for holiness. Or is it?

Often, instead of engaging in meaningful practices, our rituals become part of a “tit-for-tat” bargaining exercise with our God. We engage in “If I do this, God will do that. If I don’t do this, God won’t do that.” We follow rules as if to be obedient is more important than to be loving. If we color inside all the right lines, the picture will emerge. We practice a paint-by-numbers kind of faith.

Regardless of our tradition, if we are only practicing a reward or punishment type of faith, we miss the point. We are much more in tune with Spirit when love is our intention and we recognize rules as guideposts. It does not seem to serve well when we tithe and yet ignore the homeless, when we pray according to schedules and miss holy moments during the day, when we attend services as required but fail to attend to our neighbors who are in need.

All traditions center in the Spirit of love. Without exception, we are called to that center. Rather than trying to minimize the risk of punishment or maximize our reward of a promised land, perhaps we should be focusing on the essence of love in each day, in each moment, in each interaction. Rather than trying to be holy enough or worthy enough or perfect enough, why not focus on simply loving?

As Pema Chodron says, “Begin where you are.” If we take the step from where we stand right now and offer loving service to all we meet, March just might have more holy days than the ones we find on official lists. And the ones we celebrate will be oh-somuch more meaningful.

So put aside that Risk Management program for your faith and focus on loving actions that will connect you more deeply with Spirit as you clean house and begin anew. The Reverend Dr. Deborah Darlington is a seminary trained Interfaith Minister offering spiritual coaching and sacred celebrations and ceremonies to people of all beliefs. She can be reached at GraceMatters@ TheSpaceforGrace.com.