Our everyday lives can be likened to an arena where we compete with different issues and engagements in the various facets of our lives. In simple terms, I am suggesting that our everyday lives can be divided into three main categories:
Our homes, marriages and families; family life provides basic foundations for a stable society. Here is the place where we learn and practice common labour, sharing and cooperation.
Our work or vocation and how we live and act and react amid the dog-eat-dog world; and
In society at large, by bringing the reality of God to bear upon all the areas of our lives such as the cultural (moral standards, the arts, justice, peace and care of the earth); the political (standards of living, caring for the disadvantaged, education and health); and the institutional (organizations and clubs).
These arenas of our everyday lives are basic to our sacramental living. President Veazey in D&C 165:1b, describes our mission as a church as “a spiritual venture.” He revealed to the church under inspiration: “As a spiritual venture, boldly follow the initiatives into the heart of God’s vision for the church and creation. Then, in response to growing insight about God’s nature and will, continue to shape communities that live Christ’s love and mission.”
He also said: “Spiritual growth and guidance enrich involvement in Christ’s mission” (D&C 165 5a). My message to you this month is that our calling to sacramental living is to live a spirit-filled life.
The continuing everyday challenge for us is to be aware of these various facets of life I have described above and see how we can bring the influence of a spirit-filled life to bear in our associations with each of them?
All of us are called to sacramental living. Redeemed by God through Christ, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and experience a growing transformation of character as our bodies come into a working harmony with our spirit. Hence our embodied self becomes a habitation of the Holy – a tabernacle – where we learn throughout our daily activities to function in cooperation with and in dependence upon God.
Through time and experience we discover that everywhere we go is “holy ground” and everything we do is “sanctified action.” The jagged line dividing the sacred and the secular becomes very dim indeed, for we know that nothing is outside the realm of God’s scope of operation and loving care.
As we practice living in the Spirit, we invite God to enter every experience of life. These experiences would include the worship and adoration of our God through singing and prayer. Study, preaching and teaching will inform our minds with creative ideas. Experiences we encounter through the Sacraments can heal and challenge our spirits and bodies. Experiences of forgiveness and reconciliation can touch broken relationships and resolve conflicts. They can also make our homes holy places of worship, study, work, play and love.
As we practice living in the Spirit, we can encounter a sense of calling and have a sense of responsibility to do something of value. And it follows that we will have a sense of freedom and not be bowed down with thoughts of impossibilities and worry. Living in the Spirit will give us a sense of responsibility to do something of value, and it will bring to us a feeling of dignity.
A further challenge coming to us is to have an awareness of community, particularly for the poor and disadvantaged.
May each of us endeavour to have a sense of meaning and purpose to life as we work in cooperation with God to live fulfilling lives in our personal arenas of life.
Bill Gillard