Spiritual Maintenance

I got to start my Monday morning in the dentist’s chair. Not anyone’s favorite time or place, yet it’s obviously something that needs to be done if we want healthy teeth. Now let me start by saying I’m not comparing time with God to a dental visit! However, I think maintaining my spirituality is a lot like like dental care (or any other routine); if I neglect it and wait until something flares up, I usually pay the price. It’s easier to maintain my spirituality on a daily basis – just like flossing and getting cleanings – to prevent painful “flare-ups” (ie., when people push our buttons, frustrate, disappoint or hurt us and we totally over-react) and subsequent “decay” (ie., we end up regretting our words or behavior as a result of our anger, making things worse – sometimes even causing irreparable damage.) So…how to do this? For me it can be as simple as spending a few minutes in the morning in prayer, scheduling time to do my daily spiritual & Bible readings, meditating, thanking God at night and whenever possible, being of service to others. And then, if I realize I’ve messed up or missed my maintenance  (which I often do, like forgetting to floss), starting over and doing better the next day.  The book “Alcoholics Anonymous” says: “It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do for alcohol is a subtle foe… What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God’s will into all of our activities. ‘How can I best serve Thee – Thy will (not mine) be done’. These are thoughts which must go with us constantly.” And the Bible says “What good is it if someone says he has faith but does not have works? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” (James 2:14-26) I know I not only need to read these words, but work to apply them in my daily life, constantly looking  at myself and my relationships with others, asking God for His Help, especially when something is hurting or broken, and having faith that all will be well as long as I just show up and do my part!