15 September 2015
Zubiri
SOS
I left Roncesvalles and the Pyrenees behind bound for the
descent to Zubiri. The first 10 km were
a deeee light! It was through a level
graded path through a dense and almost magical beech forest. It had a nice
canopy of cover and a collage of green leaves, heavy moss-covered trees, a
variety of wild mushrooms with intriguing colors in patterns, sizes, and
shapes. Being in a dense forest always
brings me a sense of peace, especially after the nightmare of the Pyrenees
walk, this was so welcome.
Along that comfortable 10k walk, I easily fell into my
prayer dialogue. “So what would you like
to tell me today, Lord? What would you like my attention to be?” Just 1km later, call it a Godcident or a
quick answer to prayer, there was a sign, a huge sign. Mysteriously and inexplicably placed on the
sheer side of a mountain side were three huge white letters cast amongst the
green trees, SOS. Why the Spaniards
would place them facing long miles and miles of countryside is dumfounding.
Here was my connection.
During a few Camino presentations prior to my departure, the
theme I used were captured in the same three letters- SOS. They served as the organization of my
talk. That is, this. The spirituality I gained while walking the Camino
pilgrimage, praying, reflecting, contemplating God’s life and love with me
resulted in what I called a Spirituality of Subtraction, coincidentally the
title of a book by Richard Rohr. I have
not read Rohr’s book yet, but the title always resonated as firm truth on how
God reformed my spiritual insights. That
is, to gain spiritual growth is available by surrendering “stuff” from a
cluttered life, cluttered heart, cluttered mind. My experience taught me the path toward this
new spirituality is coincidentally ordered by the same three letters-SOS.
It begins by being silent before God in prayer. So often my prayer time launched off on my
timetable with a wonderfully pious monologue of what I thought I needed to tell
and ask God. Whether spoken aloud or a
rambling speech to Him it was, in truth, me dominating the conversation. This first step in ‘Subtraction’ required me
to, well, shut up and just listen. I may
begin with a few words of praise and expression of sorrow for offenses. After that introduction I learned to just be
silent. I often wonder how God put up with me monopolizing our conversational
prayer time. I rarely gave Him the
opportunity to speak to my heart. This I
have learned to be true: God speaks in whispers and the Holy Spirit is a
gentleman in His messages. I needed to subtract
my old habit of talking too much and just be SILENT.
How amazing God has rewarded that effort. How more amazing of what I hear in the
silence. His voice is never audible to
me, but He does speak into the heart to encourage more love and forgiveness to
be lived. I also learned that I can not
just sense His message, I need to be OPEN to it for spirituality to grow. Sometimes the message is a call to be more
for Him than I ever have been before in my daily life. Those are not easy
assignments or callings. Praying with my
palms in an open posture helps me to remain open to whatever new blessing,
insight, or challenge He may have.
SURRENDER is not an easy calling to accept. It does not even
seem very American. Giving up the comfortable me, the “way I’ve always done
it,” and the “I’m not comfortable with that now” are tough, tough self-imposed
obstacles toward this kind of spirituality.
After all, adding more is more attractive than subtracting more in life.
Enough with the inspired teaching. Emblazoned today on the side of this
mountainside were those three letters- SOS- just at the time I was offering my
attention to Him for a new message. Godcident at its best. But it engaged me in an entire day of
contemplating and listening to Him. They’re simple questions with huge,
God-sized answers.
What do you want to tell me today, Lord? I will give you all my prayer time to just
listening. (Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.)
What do I hold so tight to in my life? Of what aspect of my
life am I trying to be God/Creator/Judge? (Open the eyes of my heart, Lord.)
What new baby step in faith can I take toward greater
surrender? (LESS of me IS MORE of Jesus.)
This is the prayer routine that rattled along in my prayer
time today. I left the forest by
afternoon and led into an intensely steep climb of 200m only followed by a 4 km
and 20 degree grade of descent into Zubiri. It was over a rocky covered trail
that was devilishly rain covered and slippery.
Praise God for answering my SOS emergency call for safety.
Subtraction is a good and healthy calling. Consider its
benefits, friends.
Fondly,
Deacon Willie, DW
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