“Spirituality” possesses a lot of currency these days. Sadly, the word still connotes a kind of other worldliness. But with a closer look, we find a vision opposing such tendencies.

Spirituality relates to our heart’s desires, values and intentions — therefore it is naturally sensitive to how we direct our hearts. Our spirituality may be warped by ego, hijacked by nationalism, distracted by the fleeting superficiality we all breathe. Jesus challenges his followers to redefine their spirituality by God’s realm and by a radical turning of one’s attention in each moment to God and God’s way of doing business, where poor are made rich and all are welcomed to the feast. Conforming our hearts to this new pattern is not a one-time turning, but a lifelong attitude.

Anne Thomas Neil, a former missionary to Nigeria and Ghana and one of the key players in the founding of the Alliance, opened my eyes to this fundamental understanding of spiritual formation. As my spiritual director, she guided me in lectio divina — that slow, prayerful reading of Scripture — particularly in the gospels and psalms. Through such direction, she reminded me spending time meditating on the Jesus story summons one to a new way of seeing. Anne was also passionate that divisions of earth and spirit were not in keeping with the spirit of Christ. One of the most profound lessons I gleaned from her she had learned from the Desert fathers and mothers: The closer you get to the heart of God, the closer you get to the suffering of the world. Visiting with her recently, I find that same passion burning in her prayers and literally, in candles she lights daily for particular persons and concerns.

Cultivating a heart that hears the cry of sufferers worldwide and trusts God’s radical way of loving is just as easy as it is hard. We have all known moments of quiet opening when the seed-filled winds of the Spirit blow upon us, and we have turned to receive them. The hard part is remembering that daily tending is what keeps the heart, mind, and soul open. Such discipline need not be burdensome: 30 minutes with a cup of coffee and praying what’s on your heart; a daily psalm that you meditate on as you walk your dog, a breakfast meeting with a spiritual friend where you reflect on God’s movement in your heart and in the world.

Jesus taught that this divine vision of reality must be sought, made a priority in everyday life. Certainly, Jesus was about social change, but it is important not to miss Jesus’ spiritual wisdom that speaks to me about the value of meditation, prayer, solitude, disciplines of exercise and mindfulness, gardening, contemplative walks in nature, and devotional reading. In such set-aside times, minds relax their agendas and we can open our souls to look at reality with compassion. We can listen more deeply for that often still, quiet voice of truth. Furthermore, out of those intentional times, our practice begins to spill into every facet of life. The same eyes turning with wonder toward the sunset over the trees and giving thanks for its brilliance, can also peer through generalities being used to mask evil.  Moreover, it is with the spirit’s eyes we are enabled to see the new vision, God’s realm that is already growing like a tiny mustard seed, aching to become the biggest tree in the garden.

True spirituality is not an escape, or hiding our faces in God’s apron — but rather a call to practice slowing down and looking, stopping to listen.