A Word from Dean: Spiritual Practice
As most of you know, my husband, grandson and I just returned from almost two weeks in Morocco. What an adventure we had!
Our guides were from the rural, southern part of the country and both are practicing Muslims. For some in our group, it was a first introduction to a Muslim or to Islam. Mustafa and Mohamed interpreted some of the history, theology and traditions of their faith including the 5 Pillars:
Declaring Faith in One God
Daily Prayer
Almsgiving
Fasting during Ramadan
Hajj; Pilgrimage to Mecca
Personally, I was moved by the daily calls to prayer when the muezzin chants verses of the Quran that are broadcast from the mosque towers. At first, these melodious recitations sounded rather eerie to me. After time, however, they became hauntingly beautiful in sound and significance.
What if Christians heard a resounding voice five times a day reminding us to pray? Would we feel closer and more trusting in God, or more mindful of the needs of others we might pray for? I suspect so.
Prayer is, indeed, a spiritual practice. We have to cultivate the habit of praying; it doesn’t come naturally to us. Inspired by our Abrahamic friends, it would be worthwhile for each of us to set aside a regular time, or times, to be still and in prayer.