Sessions with the Farmer’s Wife:
Conventional Wisdom for Contemporary Life
December 24, 1984: We went to program in church in the evening. The kids did well – the musical “Three Wee Kings” went quite well. It had been a lot of work for Karla. After the program, Jim and Karla asked us over. Karla’s folks and sister Karen came for the program too and we all had a nice visit.
December 25, 1984: John and I went to church in the morning. A clear sunny day. B & S came over early afternoon and Jim and Karla also came a bit later. We had a good time together playing games etc. John and I called B & N just before noon. – Leona, Personal Journal
It’s Christmas Eve and, no matter the weather, the temperature, or the wind chill, farm work ceases come Christmas Eve. On Thanksgiving, one may need to rush from the turkey and pie, out to the corn field to do some late season combining. Independence Day may be interrupted with some weed destruction. But not tonight. Christmas is about spiritual things, as Leona’s entries so clearly capture, and this moment is to be aware of, respect and practice positive spirituality.
The very nature and nomenclature of Christmas directs our thoughts to the birth of Jesus, God’s only son, in a smelly barn with curious happenings of angels and, eventually, Wise Men following a star to find and bring gifts to this child. Spirituality certainly encompasses our relationship with God, Himself, and spirituality comprises interactions with ourselves, others, and even the world around us. Some folks respond to the mention of spirituality with, “I’m just not a spiritual person,” which seems to be rather paradoxically improbable. It would be similar to someone announcing, “I don’t speak.” You just did. Every moment of our life is a spiritual moment, one way or the other, for better or for worse. It doesn’t go away simply because we ignore it.
My farmer & my mom making a "spiritual connection" through the giving & receiving of a John Deere tractor mailbox (1993)
Many issues that bring clients to my office are some rendition of a spiritual disconnect. Diagnoses such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), agoraphobia, personality disorders and others often have a component of spiritual calamity. J. Eric Gentry, PhD, LMHC (www.compassionunlimited.com), a knowledgeable and highly respected traumatologist, indicates that “burn-out” is indeed a spiritual crisis. If you consider a “spiritual crisis” to be an obstruction with your relationship to God, others, yourself, and/or the world around you, this accurate assessment is more clearly evident. Once we sift through all of our ideas and teachings and miscommunications about religion and beliefs systems, spirituality is a foundational and vital life component of which to be more aware in order to practice better “health.”
When I worked at the inpatient behavioral health unit, otherwise known as the psychiatric hospital, I acquired a handout about spirituality that cuts to the chase – no matter your doctrinal beliefs.
Spirituality is about being:
• Positive and creative in all areas of my life
• Loving and forgiving of myself and others
• Open and welcoming of others’ opinions and views
• Clear and committed about “walking my talk”
• Hopeful and filled with gratitude in the face of my challenges
• Bold and strong as I face my fears
• Gracious and humble as I acknowledge my need for support of
others and of my Higher Power
• Alert and aware that there is a Power much greater than myself
that is guiding the universe
• Connected and attuned to this Divine Source
• Mindful and perceptive of my need to seek purpose and meaning
in life
• Willing and able to give and receive love
• Committed and disciplined in my work to stay physically,
emotionally, mentally, and spiritually healthy
— Author Unknown
During this spiritual moment, I encourage you to set aside some time to intentionally and honestly evaluate your spirituality, to consider your life practices through the lens of these ideas as they pertain to your relationship with:
1) yourself
2) others
3) the world around you (e.g., are you considering the effect you
leave?)
4) God
Merry Christmas from the Ver Meers!
If discussion of spiritual concepts is of further interest to you, you may enjoy my upcoming website and blog called Soul Safety. I’ll post a link when those are available. Here, we’ll talk more about the importance of using this winter season to evaluate and analyze where we are and how we got here, but for now, enjoy the spiritual moment we are experiencing, and have a Merry Christmas!
Grain of Truth: Life is spiritual.
Sessions International 