Is this exercise?

Cooper wants to golf with me and so we each have our clubs and I tee off.  I tell him when we get closer to the hole, he can tee off.  300 yards is a long way for a 4 year old to hit a ball.   We get about 90 yards from the green and he hits his first ball and then turns to me and asks, "Is this exercise?"  

I reflect on his question wondering what he is really asking.  "If this is exercise it doesn't feel like it!" or "This feels like exercise to me and I don't want to do it!"  Whatever he meant by his question, I consider that this is what life is like, what the spiritual journey is like.  There are parts that I ease into and move freely and lightly and there are parts that are just plain hard work.  

One thing I do know....how ever I make the journey, it can't be done without community!   Cooper and I played 3 holes together and then he when fishing with his PAPA in the pond by the 6th hole. I am not sure if either were exercise, but we did it together.   David Benner in his book,The Gift of Being Yourself, says, "No one should ever expect to make the journey alone. Knowing yourself and knowing God depends on being accompanied by others on our journey toward the heart of God." 

As your fall begins  you may want to consider joining others on your journey towards God. See opportunities to the right in the page "2014-15 at a Glance".

New to Soul Care?  Sometimes, the demands of everyday life keep us from tending to the inner life of our soul.  Our soul's health drives everything that matters to us. Souls need care. But how do you find ways to do it?  Soul Care offers contemplative opportunities to explore how our daily, exterior life is deeply integrated with the interior movements of God.  Time is set aside for prayer, reflection, silence, listening and sharing—core spiritual practices that are paramount to being present to God and noticing Him in unexpected ways through the everyday experiences of life. Opportunities include group direction, personal retreat days and individual spiritual direction.  If you are interested in discovering what Soul Care might look like in your spiritual journey, contact Missy Stewart (malisa.stewart@gmail.com - 209.985.1146), Alita Richter (alita.richter@mcclife.net - 209.613-8089) or Ragena Ensley (ragena.ensley@gmail.com - 209.480.5410).