Richard Foster makes a connection between spiritual disciplines and “the good life”. Regarding the spiritual disciplines, he says, “Their purpose is not to make life miserable but joyful, not to put us in bondage but to set us free, not to confine but to liberate.” Any thoughts on how this actually happens?
Foster also comments that “the good life” is often identified with power, wealth, status, and freedom from all authority. Does this picture of “the good life” resonate with you? What is your idea of “the good life”?
Let’s hear from each other.
“It is one thing to praise discipline, and another to submit to it.” -Don Quixote
Will probably be more of a lurker than a poster, but figured I would check in early on.
Looking forward to seeing where this goes.
Keith
We’re have a gas crisis here in Atlanta…gas stations are just empty, so last week I left the house at 11pm to buy bread and milk so that my wife and toddler didn’t have to the next 4 days as I was going to be out of town. As I pulled into the super market parking lot, I noticed a 30 something guy and two 30 something girls dressed to the nines walking into a sports bar for some drinks probably. On the cell phones, checking make-up, etc. This is exactly what pop culture upholds as “The Life”. Party Hard. But I found it ironic that the likely reason they were going out was so they could meet a potential spouse…so that one day they would have the privilege to go to Publix at 11pm and buy milk and bread for their family.
Taking care of a family is Spiritual Discipline and a privilege in my book. It IS “the good life”
well, so much for lurking….
Was sitting here studying and I realized something. The more I submit to God in all things, and lately “all things” things seem to be my time, the more I am freed.
My wife came back from a conference where the speaker encouraged the ladies to really make their quite time a priority and that through that they would be physically strengthen as well as spiritually. Well, here it is a month later and I took her advice.
I realize now that I was in bondage to my schedule, to my expectations and as I give those up and make time with God my priority, the other things truly have fallen in.
So lately, I have been living the “good life”. My time with my family has been better and my walk with God has gotten better.
I can personally see the connection between the Spiritual Disciplines and the “good life”.
Aaron/Keith…thanks for posting your thoughts…time and family are huge blessings and challenges as I consider what it is to live “the good life”.
Above all, it is at the core of me to want to know the One True God and Jesus whom He’s sent. That seems to be what gnaws at me. I think of guys like Thoreau who wanted nothing more than to “suck all the marrow” out of life. It seems that John the Apostle addresses some of this when he says, “…and this is eternal life…” (John 14).
Looking forward to having this conversation…you guys are always welcome here!
Look out the window,
There in a tree,
Two love birds singin’ happy and free.
That’s the way love is,
Comes naturally.
Love will give you a song
If you’ll let love be.
We can’t ‘make love.’
We’ve got to ‘let love.’
If we try to ‘make love’, we won’t hear love when love calls.
We can’t ‘make love’
We’ve got to ‘let love.’
There’s no ‘jumping into love’
You’ve got to fall…..
I went to my momma’s house
To kick back and relax.
Took a bite of an apple
got a mouth full of wax!
A man made apple might be luscious to see
But a man made apple is yuckie!
You can take it from me!
Jesus is love
And He loves you and me.
We can’t make love
just simply receive.
fall in love, fall in love, fall in love…..
He is DeVine
We are de Branch.
Discipline is His life in His disciple.
“Christ liveth in me…….”
Love,
Bob