During Lent I am talking to you about things you can give up to enhance your spiritual journey. Today I want to say something about your energy.

As I mentioned this last week several people responded with the question, “What energy?” Obviously we are a tired bunch! Being asked to give up some energy may seem like an impossible request. Actually, what I am advocating is redirecting some of your energy toward spiritual life, which can be very hard work.

Human beings have several dimensions: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Of these, only the physical grows automatically. We progress physically without effort, or even awareness. The growth and aging of our bodies is out of our control. It proceeds whether we like it or not.

To a lesser extent, this is true of the emotional and mental as well. Much of their development takes place without our awareness. At a certain point, however, we begin to make choices that affect our emotional and mental life. We begin to accept responsibility. We go to school, or get married, or delve into a challenging career. Unfortunately, many people along the way make the choice to stop this growing. It is not unusual to see mature adults who have long ago given up on the challenges of emotional and mental maturity.

The spiritual side is different. Though every person has a spiritual side, its development is not automatic. It doesn’t proceed without our cooperation. At every point, we can stand in its way. We can fail to do the things necessary to cultivate the spiritual. For many people this just isn’t important. For some there is the mistaken assumption that they already know what is true. For some there is the impediment of bad life experiences. Regardless of the reasons, significant numbers of people have an underdeveloped spiritual side. The consequences of this can be disastrous, personally and for society at large.

When our world is influenced for good, it is by people who have experienced spiritual awakening. Do not underestimate the power of one person who has come alive to the presence of God.

There are many ways we cultivate the growth of the soul. Prayer, worship, study, meditation, reading, celebration, fasting, service to others, reflections, confession, relationships of accountability with others—these are some of the means by which God brings us into greater awareness of the eternal. But none of them are passive. None of them happen by themselves. They require our energy. It is the work of a lifetime.

Do you believe this? Are you willing to give what it takes to mature in matters of the soul?

This question matters when we decide on the things that will get our attention, our time, our financial investment, and yes, our energy. As we come closer to Easter, it would be good to look at our habits and patterns of living. Are you giving enough of your energy to the spiritual? If you aren’t, you can always start. God will meet you wherever you are.

But start now. You can wait until it is too late.