Walking Toward God

History of Christian Spiritual Practices

March 24 2009

Walking Toward God

Daniel Wolpert, Creating a Life with God, Chapter 9, pp. 126-135

1. Key Issues of Walking Toward God

1. The metaphor of journey, ‘On A Journey’

   1. From the story of the man at prayer retreat

      1. Sometimes, when we have problems, we ask God to fix them right away. (126)

      2. However, God does not give answers right away. We are disappointed with God. (126)

      3. However, God tells us to move out from disappointment, not to be stuck in that feeling. Because we are on a journey. (127)

   2. We are on a journey – the metaphor of journey

      1. We are living in the movement through time and space. The movement provides us new view and vision.(127)

      2. As God is living, the relationship with God is subject to change, growth, and development. To develop our spiritual life is to fortify our relationship with God.(128)

      3. Also, developing our spiritual life opens new possibilities.

2. Journey In the History of Our Faith

   1. Old Testament (129)

      1. Israelites in the Exodus story and their faith journey

         1. In Exodus story, Israelites move out from slavery to people of God.

         2. When Israelites are faithful to God, they are moving to God.

   2. New Testament (129)

      1. The Gospel of Luke describes Jesus’ ministry as a journey. Jesus’ journeys have clear purposes

   3. Early Church Tradition (130)

      1. The pilgrimage, a sacred journey to Jerusalem

   4. Monastic communities (130)

      1. They developed the architecture to allow monks to spend time in walking prayer.

2. Connecting Walking Prayer to the Key Issue

   1. Connecting walking prayer to the Key Issue

      1. Wolpert states that a movement through time and space is to add the possibility of change and renewal. (127) We can develop our spiritual life through the movement. As developing our spiritual life, walking prayer is moving in order to make space for God.(130)

   2. Practicing Walking Prayer (131-132)

      1. To start with slow walking

         1. Open our mind to God

         2. Set the time for prayer

         3. Select a route

      2. To make pace be slower and slower

         1. Pay attention to the movement or feet

      3. As our bodies move slowly through physical world, our heart and mind open to spiritual world.

      4. Slow walking increases awareness to notice God.

      5. In the group setting, to make time for debriefing.

   3. Challenges

      1. Our minds and bodies are not easily accustomed to moving slowly

3. Connecting the Labyrinth to the Key Issue

   1. Connecting the Labyrinth to the Key Issue

      1. We are on a journey to God. Our Journeys have clear destination, which is God. Also, it symbolizes the journey of pilgrimages to Jerusalem in order to spiritual renew. (130)

      2. The Labyrinth was developed for replacement of the sacred journey to Jerusalem. (133)

      3. Labyrinth can be found not only from Christian tradition but also from the others. (133)

   2. Practicing the Labyrinth (133-135)

      1. To walk the path to the center of the figure and then return to the exit at own pace.

         1. The first phase: walking toward God

         2. The second phase: When we arrive at the center of the figure, it symbolizes union with God

         3. The third phase: going back to the world as new renewed spirit

      2. Draw attention to God.

      3. Pay attention to body as it moves through space.

      4. In the group setting

         1. Have time for a short silence

         2. Enter the figure individually

         3. Make enough margin for each person

         4. Walk with each person’s own pace

         5. If a person need to pass someone, pass him/her gently and in silence

         6. Each person can stay at the center of figure then go out to the world.

         7. Take time to share observation and experiences

   3. Challenges

      1. Hard to find a labyrinth

      2. Need enough space

4. Discussion Questions

   1. Where are we on a journey? Are we running or walking? How can we make a space for God in our actual life?

2. In terms of the Labyrinth symbolizes a journey to the holy land, how can we design a program for the congregation without the Labyrinth?