There are lots of things that Eyres are into. Some weird, some crazy, and some velvety good. One of them is “spiritual creation.” My Dad has always been a “spiritual creator” (happy bday yesterday, Dad!). He is always spilling out with goals and dreams and plans and he has an uncanny way of making them come to pass. I think it’s because he relies on the spirit to help him, guide him and nudge him along the way (which I believe is what “spiritual creation” is). And when your dad is a spiritual creator, some of that is bound to rub off on his kids. Some of that rubbing helped my brother come up with the “spiritual creator” award he gives to someone new at the end of the reunion at Bear Lake each year. The reward is often written on a paper plate, in his own handwriting, and we all laugh, but I love it because it’s pretty cool to think about what each family has done to spiritually create in their lives.
So I cling to spiritual creation ideas. And I love that one came a little while back that I’ve been thinking of ever since.
As a side-note (that relates to what I’m trying to say, I promise!) every Monday my email in-box spills over with letters from missionaries from all over the world. I guess that’s what happens when your son and daughter have so many friends you love out there serving. Some weeks I’m better at reading them than others, but when I do, I just feel so overcome with love for them and gratitude for all they’re learning and also wishing I could scoop up some of their goodness and keep it in my heart.
So sometimes I’ll take a screen shot of things that stick out to me:
Good stuff right? I don’t even remember who those are from, haven’t figured out a system for that yet, so I can’t give them credit, but I love them as well as all the other ones not here.
One of those letters mentioned a General Conference talk that I listened to while I was getting ready one day. It is called “Pray Always” and it is
HERE.
I fell in love with it.
Because in the middle of all the prayer-talk, Elder Bednar mentioned spiritual creation. And of course my ears perked up. He talked about how morning prayer is a time to “spiritually create” your day. And I latched on to that little idea.
There is so much balance to find in life. So many tasks to accomplish, so many people to serve, so much good to do, so much to learn, so much to grow. At times it can be overwhelming. There have been plenty of mornings when I roll out of bed so overwhelmed I don’t even know which direction to begin.
But I have found that if I take time to “spiritually create” with God in the mornings, talking over what is coming that day with God in a sense, in gratitude but also pleading for help, even for a few minutes, my days tend to go that much better. When I do, I find that I’m more able to listen to and follow through on little promptings and impressions that come throughout the day. Sometimes they are big and sometimes they are small.
I’m not perfect at this by any means, but I’m getting better. Because every time put a conscious effort to spiritually create in the mornings those days are better.
Just wanted to share. And write that down. Because maybe my future self (like tomorrow) will need the reminder 🙂
Thank you !!!
Maybe it's the language barrier or the fact that I am not Mormon, but I didn't quite get what "spiritually create" means. Be better? Or have ideas on how to be better?
Great question Kerstin, (I guess I'm so indoctrinated with the idea I didn't explain it very clearly…and just added a little clarification up there 🙂 I think Max described it best back to me when I wrote to him about this thought this week: "The importance of letting God know what our hopes are for the day. telling Him what we are going to do and our goals, and asking for his help." When we do this sincerely, we are so much more likely to listen to little promptings or nudges I believe God is trying to send and fulfill our days (and weeks and months) as He wants us to.
Also, I think Jessica described it well below…thank you Jessica!
Thank you, Shawni and Jessica!
Beautiful!! Thank you so much for the reminder! I have a goal to spend the first moments every day with the Lord. Not only to spiritually create my day and set the tone, BUT to also show him (sometimes by sacrifice – ‘cause lets be real – I’ve got littles at home and I don’t sleep much at night) that He takes priority over anything else in my day. There are a LOT of days that I fail at that… BUT the days I DO follow through are absolute game changers. I find that when I invest that time in Him and build that relationship, I benefit way more than I deserve. I see His hand working in mine and my family members lives, and hear him teaching and guiding me. It’s not always magnificent or over the top, at least by the world’s standards, BUT I feel that when I reach out to him, the result is the most beautiful creation of all – He’s creating me.
I just read the best little snippet from "Mere Christianity" by CS Lewis,
"The real problem of the Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it. It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them back; in listening to the other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day. Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings; coming in and out of the wind".
Love that and your thoughts this morning! Thanks.
I love, love, love that quote. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for Elder Bednar's talk. It's excellent and I'm learning a lot by reading and re-reading parts of it. It's truly amazing what can be made of our lives if we partner with our Heavenly Father. xoxo
I think that this is important not only from a spiritual perspective but sometimes a practical one. I ask my girls (and myself) every night: what did you do today that Future You will be grateful for? Sometimes it's something as simple as making sure the kitchen was really clean before bedtime; sometimes it's working ahead just a little on a long-term assignment – sometimes it's just thinking through what you need for the next day to avoid that sinking "oh no, PE today and my clothes are in the laundry" feeling. (The one that ends with Mom saying, "Wow, stinks to be you – literally!" with maybe a bit less compassion that she should have. Ahem.)
As someone who is not a morning person, I have found that I crave that quiet time in the evening to do that spiritual creation; I find that I sleep more peacefully when I consciously have that connection first.
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