Your Body and Your Soul are Connected...

Ok...weird title. Could not think of a better one for this short and bizarre post but cut me some slack since I have a nasty cold.

So I took the kids on a ski trip this weekend to West Virginia. We had a blast. However, we had to do devotions in the morning at 6:30am. Which, is pretty dang early especially for teens and especially if they were skiing the entire day before.

Couple this with the fact that I feel very strongly that devotions are something we "do" and not something we sit back and receive. So, this means I expect and do devotional times that are structured to create ample space and time to give kids a direct opportunity to draw near to God.

Well, each morning we did a different type of lexio to a psalm (started with psalm 63, then 86 then finishing with 1). While doing it I made them kneel on the ground.

Now, this may sound like cruel and unusual punishment but the truth is it is a trick I learned in the monastery. When you are having a hard time praying (tired...don't want to pray...mind wandering etc...) being in a semi uncomfortable position helps you focus. Kneeling is one of the best ways to beat a bad prayer time. Not the kneeling where you are slouched over or leaning against something. No, I am talking about the kneeling with a fairly straight back.

The kids did it...so did I...and so did the leaders. And guess what?

It worked. Really well.

Try it. You will thank me for it just like I thank the Franciscans who taught it to me.