Comments on: Spiritually-Nourishing Family Life http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2007/spiritually-nourishing-family-life Religion and spirituality from a Unitarian Universalist perspective Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:27:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Shelby Meyerhoff http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2007/spiritually-nourishing-family-life#comment-5286 Shelby Meyerhoff Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:05:12 +0000 http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2007/spiritually-nourishing-family-life#comment-5286 Terri and Hafidha, Thank you for sharing. Terri, as you described so well, connection with the natural world can be a critical part of spiritual development. Your children are so lucky that you are giving them opportunities to be in nature. As for your observation that family life is not spiritually nourishing YOU...I am hopeful that over time, you will find some ways to integrate spiritual self-care into your family life. Hafidha, "Living consciously and conscientiously...not taking anything for granted" -- these are insightful explanations of why spiritual practices matter. Also, I'm thinking of you and your family during this time. Terri and Hafidha, Thank you for sharing. Terri, as you described so well, connection with the natural world can be a critical part of spiritual development. Your children are so lucky that you are giving them opportunities to be in nature.

As for your observation that family life is not spiritually nourishing YOU…I am hopeful that over time, you will find some ways to integrate spiritual self-care into your family life.

Hafidha, “Living consciously and conscientiously…not taking anything for granted” — these are insightful explanations of why spiritual practices matter.

Also, I’m thinking of you and your family during this time.

]]> By: hafidha sofia http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2007/spiritually-nourishing-family-life#comment-5283 hafidha sofia Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:54:36 +0000 http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2007/spiritually-nourishing-family-life#comment-5283 I think this is really important. I am often thinking about this because I came from such a religious background and am wanting new traditions (?) that have meaning and represent the life I live and want to live. Saying grace to me seems very good (I've met several UU young adults who pause before every meal to express gratitude for all the crop workers, the sun, the rain, the animals, the clerks, etc. who made their receipt of food possible). What are all of these practices about, really? Living consciously and conscientiously ... not taking anything for granted ... loving the life you already have ... and so on. Sorry for the rambling nature of the post; I'm writing quickly as I have to run off to the hospital, but wanted to respond! I think this is really important. I am often thinking about this because I came from such a religious background and am wanting new traditions (?) that have meaning and represent the life I live and want to live.

Saying grace to me seems very good (I’ve met several UU young adults who pause before every meal to express gratitude for all the crop workers, the sun, the rain, the animals, the clerks, etc. who made their receipt of food possible). What are all of these practices about, really? Living consciously and conscientiously … not taking anything for granted … loving the life you already have … and so on.

Sorry for the rambling nature of the post; I’m writing quickly as I have to run off to the hospital, but wanted to respond!

]]> By: Terri http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2007/spiritually-nourishing-family-life#comment-5244 Terri Fri, 09 Nov 2007 01:23:01 +0000 http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2007/spiritually-nourishing-family-life#comment-5244 My kids are young (3 and 1), but we are always looking for ways of sharing our UU faith and values with them. We share lots of time and meals together and have a practice of "gratitudes" at dinner. My 3 year old comes up with great things to be thankful for. We also take them out into nature A LOT--gardening and hiking and just looking around. Just sharing our love for nature and preserving their awareness of the natural world is spiritual. In the home: I hadn't thought of posting the principles--that's a great idea. I guess the closest I have to adornment is a cross-stitched Chief Seattle quote about the Web of Life... We're always looking for new ideas, (especially around the holidays which are so commercialized) to have a more shared spiritual life...also to teach our kids about giving and generosity. As for family life strengthening my own spiritual development, that is something I'm currently struggling with. I know their are definitely moments that it does, but many other times there's a big gap. Something I'm working on... My kids are young (3 and 1), but we are always looking for ways of sharing our UU faith and values with them. We share lots of time and meals together and have a practice of “gratitudes” at dinner. My 3 year old comes up with great things to be thankful for. We also take them out into nature A LOT–gardening and hiking and just looking around. Just sharing our love for nature and preserving their awareness of the natural world is spiritual. In the home: I hadn’t thought of posting the principles–that’s a great idea. I guess the closest I have to adornment is a cross-stitched Chief Seattle quote about the Web of Life… We’re always looking for new ideas, (especially around the holidays which are so commercialized) to have a more shared spiritual life…also to teach our kids about giving and generosity. As for family life strengthening my own spiritual development, that is something I’m currently struggling with. I know their are definitely moments that it does, but many other times there’s a big gap. Something I’m working on…

]]>