Spiritual Spring Cleaning Friday Five

Sally from RevGalBlogPals writes:

I have been thinking about spring, although it is still very cold here the snow has almost gone and the sun is shining. Here and there spring bulbs are bravely pushing their way through the earth and Tim and I are thinking about planting the first of the years veggies in the garden!

Then I read:

The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you. (2 Corninthians 5: 17-20 The Message)

All this got me thinking that if we traditionally think of spring as a time for new life, then maybe a spiritual spring clean might not be a bad thing to clear the way for the new thing that God wants to do in us!

So with all of that in mind I offer you this Friday Five:

1. Is there a part of your spiritual life that is dry and dusty at the moment, something that could do with a good spring clean?
Funny you should ask... I am taking my final Spiritual Formation class for seminary and it has a 7-fold approach to a holistic Spiritual Formation (Personal Faith, Emotional, Relational, Vocational, Theological, Health and Wellness and Financial). The photographs don't lie. I need to be more serious about my Health and Wellness.

2. Spiritual disciplines- life-giving/ terrifying: discuss
If you use them as a sledge-hammering, guilt-inducing self-abuse, they will be terrifying. If you recognize you need them to work on your own personal growth, then they are life-giving. Actually, I think the most important concept to remember is that "one size doesn't fit all"!!!

3. Share a practice that keeps you spiritually alive that you think others might benefit from...
 Silent retreats - even a 4 hour day one does wonderful things! I get away at least once a quarter. I'm trying for monthly.

4.Alone or together, how do you pray best?
Alone. BUT... (having said that) there are many burdens that are best lifted to God together.

5.If your spiritual life were to burgeon and bloom into a spring flower what would it be and why?
I'm guessing a forsythia - I am fairly hardly, somewhat invasive (I am not a "shrinking violet!"), and I want to grow beyond last year's growth. In fact - the way that forsythias bloom is by setting buds on last year's growth. The overall effect of a forsythia is quite compelling, but even the individual flowers have a strong yellow color and a very gentle fragrance.

Bonus, a piece of music a picture or a prayer that speaks to you of new life....

This is one of my favorite pieces of "happy music" -- I love the percussion in it. I love the simply joyful lyrics. It's just FUN!