Walking the Narrow Path

Introduction Practicing a 40 day spiritual discipline is revolutionary and has the ability to change our relationship with ourselves, with others and with our environment. Spiritual discipline is deeply rooted in ancient times. The ability to bring your spiritual discipline practices into every moment of your daily routine allows you to have a connection of body, mind and soul. That connection will help to keep you fundamentally grounded when the chaos of this world tries to side swipe us and drag us into old patterns or habits. I have found a 40 day spiritual discipline has helped me change unhealthy patterns in my life. When you are on a 40 day program you will notice healthy changes within 21 days and when you reach 40 days you have set a new healthy pattern in your life. The self improvement opportunities are endless, and from that, we learn to have healthier relationships with ourselves and with every circumstance we encounter on our life journey. Healing can be found in the Light. Pure love is light. Fear, doubt and negativity is darkness. A spiritual disciple can bring light into the dark spaces if we participate. By participating we accept the invitation of the Spirit to dwell within us. One of my spiritual disciple favorites, Julie Clinton, says that we should be fearless knowing that: ‘no darkness can withstand even the smallest light, so keep your hope candle burning.’ (Be Fearless: Keep the Hope Candle Burning). When God stirs the heart we need to be willing to receive light and love to allow healing to take place. What does that feel like? I guess it is different for everyone. To me it is a heartfelt feeling that can rush (a wave of sensation) through your entire body. We will discuss this more as we move into the workings of the 40 day journey but just know it is a choice and we do need to accept and welcome the invitation. At first, it is hard to pinpoint the internal stirrings but as you learn more about yourself you will begin to recognize your own body, mind, and soul cues. As we welcome the indwelling of the Spirit, we amp up the healing process. As we heal, there is still much darkness that surrounds us. Sadly, the cloak of darkness can be more appealing to us as we journey through our life, simply because it is comfortable. We might not like the darkness, but we are familiar with the darkness and until we are further into our healing journey the darkness will try and convince us to stay out of the light. Light is in each and every one of us. Choosing a spiritual discipline will let your light overcome the darkness and spark joy on your journey. Light shines in each one of us, and as we are able to get that light shining brighter, others will be able to recognize and be drawn to it. Imagine yourself becoming a lighthouse. Like moths to flames, others who seek the light knowingly or unknowingly become attracted to the light within you. The light isn’t just healing to you it aids in the healing of others. As you heal yourself you are healing those closest to you, you are able to heal yourself and family from past trauma as well as set the healthy stage for future generations. For me, using a 40 day spiritual discipline which embodies the entirety of our beings (that is our body, mind and soul) can produce beneficial self improvement results that can be further cultivated as we grow spiritually. Bringing that spiritual component into our healing allows us to centre ourselves developing our vertical (balanced) so that whatever is going on in the horizontal (imbalances) will not take us down. Developing a strong core mentally and physically allows one to be aligned with the source, our Creator, our God. The 40 day spiritual discipline can be used as a prayer circle to petition for ourselves, to help others on their journey or for our entire community. As a prayer warrior, utilizing the 40 day prayer circle has allowed me to change my life and the world I live in one prayer at a time. 40 day prayer circles can help bring wisdom and God’s direction into decisions or life circumstances. It is a valuable tool for any self care tool box. The entire idea behind this book is that you do your best on this, your personal journey. You may need to start and restart a few times but I assure you that when you embrace this kind of healing, you will never let it go! The results for me and those I have worked with are amazing. I believe that healing starts on the inside then flows to our life patterns, I believe it takes heart, body, mind, soul and strength and I believe this 40 day program that brings together body, mind and soul will revolutionize your healing journey. What I have learned is self wellness is hard work! But very worth the effort. I only know what I know, and I hope what I know will help you. Being Spiritual I shudder when people refer to me as religious. I prefer to be known as spiritual. My spiritual connection, my source of light is the triune God. My research and studies have opened my mind to the fact that we are all connected and wisdom from above is pure, peaceful and sincere. If your spiritual source has got any component attached to darkness or has a vibration of something other than that of kindness, peace and love then I encourage you to find a spiritual space that does spark joy. I know a wise rancher that sits in his lawn chair at dawn with his cup of coffee looking and appreciating all the nature that surrounds him and says ‘This is my church’. I respect that! This man may not be in church every Sunday or any Sunday, but he has a belief system that is pure, peaceful and sincere. He has found comfort in a space that is uplifting to his soul. He has slowed down and let go of the day to day struggles of ranching and farming and just sits. In that stillness he has engaged his senses. What he sees, hears, and smells brings him in to the present moment. Maybe a refreshing light wind blows on his face, or that first sip of coffee grabs his taste buds. He is comforted in the connection and relationship that he has with his ‘church’. He has cultivated the ability to enjoy the peacefulness of nature and the love that established all of it. To have that place to worship the creation that surrounds him. To find that spot that speaks to his heart and stirs the spirit within him. We can all find that place of worship, that place that helps us ensure our anchors are set on a solid rock. To root us down and ground us in contentment and joy which allows us to rise up (or reset) and be the best versions of ourselves that we can be in any given moment in time. My personal journey has led me to appreciate all that God created. For me, all I need is a sunset or sunrise to help me reset. To ensure my vertical (where my anchor is set) is connected to my Source of light. I assert that if our vertical (roots of our feet to crown of our head) is aligned, whatever is happening on the horizontal (the waves and winds of life) will not take us down or cause us to falter. I was raised Lutheran. I am a confirmed member of the Lutheran Church that is situated in the rough neighbourhood in which I was raised. As my pastor likes to say, we are a home for the ‘black sheep’. What I have learned is the importance of finding that “church” which sparks joy and makes you feel at home. I drive over an hour back to my neighbourhood church to be with the other black sheep in my Christian family. I completely understand that church is not for everyone. I have been to plenty of churches that did not feel like home. I have helped many people on their own spiritual journey that turned away from the church because of the pain and hurt they personally experienced or their family experienced. Your church will be what stirs your heart and it will be a unique experience for you.