All I Really Need
By Lisa Ash Drackert of Kansas City, MO, USA
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come into his presence with singing.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he that made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, bless his name.
For the LORD is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations. -Psalm 100 NRSV
I finally went camping. One whole night spent in a two-person backpacker’s tent, wearing a down coat inside my sleeping bag, listening to the October wind quiver the dry leaves. It was glorious. I love the oh-so-small feeling that overwhelms my soul when I’m contemplating the dark sky bursting with starlight. I love the packing, the food planning, and waking up in the morning with no alarm and no agenda.
When I unrolled my yoga mat on the grass next to the tent, I looked around and thought: well, this is all I really need. I did my morning yoga practice in the quietude of the Missouri woods wearing my coat and my hiking boots. I didn’t need a yoga block, a yoga towel, a yoga blanket, a yoga strap, or a yoga bolster; I just needed myself. It was simple. And it was glorious.
When you yearn to unite with God in every breath and in every place, you don’t need much. Life gets pretty simple. In fact, as inspirational speaker Steve Maraboli writes, “You don’t grow spiritual, you shrink spiritual.”
How can you simplify your life?
Right now, I’m committed to simplifying my life by letting go of perceived expectations and the need to please everyone else. I’m letting go of the word “should” and instead using “want”. I’m simplifying my life by making choices with my work/life balance that benefit my family and my sense of self. And I’m thinking about going camping more often.
Prayer Phrase
I dwell in your presence.
Spiritual Practice
Prayer of Examen
Spend a few moments recalling your day. Let details, events, and conversations drift through your memory. Offer gratitude for the day and pray to be aware of how God was present. What did you notice or feel that brought meaning? Pay attention to moments when you felt least in harmony with God’s vision for creation. Offer a prayer of confession. Pay attention to moments when you felt most in harmony with God’s vision for creation. Pray to be even more aware of and responsive to God’s presence in the days ahead. Amen.
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
