Tommorrow I'm speaking at The Split, which is basically an all school retreat where the girls all go one place, and the guys go the other. Usually for stuff like this I struggle and slave over what I'm going to say or speak on, but this time I decided to just let the topic flow out of my walk.

The theme of the retreat is "consumed by Christ." Yesterday in chapel one of my best friends introduced the theme. His point was that we live in a consumeristic society and this floods into our Christianity. We become consumers of Christ, picking and choosing where we want him, when we want him, and how we want him. His point was that instead of being consumers of Christ, we need to become consumed by Christ.

So my topic is on practicing being consumed: the spiritual disciplines. Kenneth Boa in his book on spiritual formation makes a very strong point concerning spiritual disciplines. He says that discipline flows out of dependance. His point is that being dependant on Christ is not something that mysteriously occurs or will occur at some point, instead being dependant on Christ is a practice that takes dedication and hardwork.

Richard Foster in his masterpiece on spiritual discplines discuss them similarly. He says, "God has given us the disciplines of the spiritual life as a means of recieving his grace. The disciplines allow us to place ourselves before God so that He can transform us." His point is clear, the disciplines are man's way of allowing God to be active and overwhelming in our lives.

Tommorrow I'm focusing on three major discplines: Prayer, Silence, and Dancing. I've referenced other people who have studied and practiced the disciplines, but personally this is what it mens to me.

When I wake,

with sleep still heavy on my eyes,

and immediately find my knees

in His presence and holy court,

my daily focus alligns to His focus.

When I sit,

in complete silence and solitude,

centered on emptying my mind,

meditating on my walk in his path,

my empty places are filled with His light.

and

When I rise,

to dance in the afternoon sun,

in rhythm with all of His creation,

and overwhelmed in His love,

my fleshy cell turns to celebration.