When we returned to Utah from Arizona, we had been laying spiritual prices to know Gods will for us.
We had been spending a lot of time working on our relationship with God, praying deeply. Fasting with faith.
And we barely felt like we got the scantest hint of an answer.
I’m the years since, that seems to have borne out as the correct decision.
That was probably a peak of spirituality. (My personal growth, certainly, seems to be sprints and rests, and is not a linear thing.)
Since then I’m not sure I’ve has as obvious a growth in spirituality. I’ve had catalysts. But nothing consistent.
Aside: the beginning 2022 had some significant growth. But it was probably marked more by pride than by “thy will be done,” which may have been past of my breakdown.
Point being: yes, a general up and to the right trend is necessary. But consistency is what is truly required to maintain and to grow.
I think lessons from the physical body also apply to spiritual advancement.
From 14-18, I played sports pretty much every day. It was just part of life. It had been since I was two.
I took some time off from 19-21, but I still walked 5-10 miles most days, and so maintained shape.
From 21-27, I played sports 2-4 days per week, or coached volleyball (which involved a lot of playing) at least that often. To the extent I was actually in far better shape at 25 than I was at 18.
The intensity of the exercise may have diminished, but it was still consistent—more focused—and so I continued to improve.
From 27-35, effort has been much less consistent and has not been able to be at the same intensity. I haven’t been able to maintain the same intensity. And so I am in a fraction of the physical shape I was in then.
I’m beginning to change that, but it’s going to take sustained effort over time to do so. Really, it took 4+ years of sustained effort to get me into great shape at 25, and that was after only two years off. And only sort of off.
Now, I’ve basically had 7 years off. So it’ll take a while to get back.
The same ups, downs, and growth patterns may apply spiritually. If my body is the temple of God, what is my spirit?
I don’t know that I have an analogous word, but the conclusion I should come to is that the spirit is even more intensely affected by lack of “exercise” and effort than the body is.
It shouldn’t take years to decline. More likely weeks and days.
So if I let my spirit simmer, or if I take it off the heat entirely, then the effort to “get back to where I was will probably take longer consistent effort.
This is a tortoise vs hare issue. Not in the way you think.
The tortoise never should have won (and life’s not really a race you can win, no matter what drivers in Utah may display). The hare lost because it stopped. We tell the story that he stopped to take a nap. The likelihood is more that he got bored on the way and got lost.
He lost focus. Went too fast and as a result lost focus. Did he go 1% too fast? Regardless, he needed to “rest” and never again took up the trail.
So what’s the spiritual lesson? Pick up the trail again when you stop. Better yet, don’t stop. Change pace if necessary. But don’t stop. Yes. It may hurt. It may stretch. But going forward, going until the race is finished, is key. Planning for a longer, more obstacle-filled race is good. And then choosing to endure when the challenges come.
In all things, choosing to rely on God. Sometimes that’s just continuing to put one foot in front of the other. Sometimes that’s being willing to listen when He says “not this way.”
A little bit at a time. But consistently greater effort. In both body and spirit.