the practice
Twenty-five years ago, I was introduced to a daily spiritual practice by the Rev. Pat Beltzer that has enriched my life more than anything I could name. At the time, I was on the steering committee for our church missions. She felt that if we were to minister to others, we needed to be fully grounded in the Holy Spirit. To that end, she asked us to devote the first 30 minutes of every day--the "First Fruits"--to prayer, scripture reading, meditation and journaling. Since that day, I have hardly missed a morning session. This practice has anchored me through some dark and challenging days, and given me energy to tackle the demands of each day. Some people prefer this practice at the end of the day, to examine how the day went and prepare for the next one, similar to the Daily Examen of St. Ignatius. That works, too!
Each year, I observe a year-end ritual to select a daily devotional book to guide my morning meditation. I quickly went through all the ones I considered outstanding, but I began to have difficulty finding a book that wasn't too fundamental, too superficial, or too "girly." I want a book that will stretch me, challenge me intellectually, and deepen my faith!
I have been a student of Hildegard von Bingen for years; I've read her books, enjoyed her heavenly music, and dragged my entire family on a pilgrimage to her home on the banks of the Rhine river in Germany. (Her nickname is "Sybil of the Rhine.") It recently occurred to me that basing a year of daily devotionals on her work could prove as inspiring and enriching to others as it has been to me.
During the year 2020, 922 years after her birth, I will be offering a daily devotional so you can learn to live "the Hildegard way." Each blog contains a passage of scripture, a lesson, and a journal prompt to help you think more deeply about how the daily topic impacts your life. They aren't sequential, so you can jump in any time!
All you need to do is show up on January 1 with an open heart and a journal. One of my favorite year-end activities is to pick out a journal for next year's devotions. My favorites have always been the beautiful foiled journals by Flame Tree. They are so beautiful--and I get compliments on them wherever I go. The blank writing papers are sturdy, they have beautiful satin bookmark ribbons, and the covers are not only gorgeous but heavy duty. I usually find mine at Half Price Books at a great discount. If you don't live near a Half Price Books, click on the design below to purchase from Amazon.