Ten simple, spiritual-religious exercises.

These were featured on BeliefNet in May 2008.

By Rabbi Brian

Our spiritual-religious life is like singing. Most of us can sing, but few of us do it in public. Even fewer do it in public without embarrassment. Spiritual-religious exercises help people develop their spiritual-religious voice so that they can — to use the words of the Psalms — “sing a new song to God.”

Here are ten simple, spiritual-religious exercises that are good for your soul. (If you like them, you'll like Rabbi Brian's book.)

 

1. _______, therefore I am.

Early 17th century French philosopher René Descartes wrote, "I think, therefore I am." But, what if thinking isn't the reason for your existence?

What word or phrase might you substitute for “I think”?

Here are a few ideas:
    * I complain, therefore I am.
    * I have stuff, therefore I am.
    * I improve on things, therefore I am.
    * My parents procreated, therefore I am.
    * I create, therefore I am.
    * God loves me, therefore I am.

(Every version gives a very different perspective on life.)

Meditate on what you would put in the blank and see what you discover.

2. Not doing.

Parkinson's Law, named after 20th Century British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson, states, "work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion."

That's just the way it is.

Paradoxically for adults, it takes work and planning in order to successfully rest.

Can you spend 5 minutes today not-doing? How about 10 minutes? Or a half-hour?

3. Universe Job Survey

I saw the following quote: "Many people want to serve God, but only as advisors."

If we aren't here to advise God, what is our job?

Here's a way to think about answering that question: Imagine for a moment that the universe was your employer. Based on the way you actually live your life — not on how you wish you did — how would you answer the following questions on The Universe’s Job Survey:

    * What is your job title?
    * What department do you work in?
    * How high ranking are you in your department?
    * Do you have a job description?
    * Does your job have fixed hours or benefits?

4. D.I.Y. Holy Day

Rather than to commemorate a truly significant religious or secular event, many of our culture's holiday are invited and exist primarily for commercial purposes.

If you could invent a holiday what would it be?

    * Bob, my brother-in-law, advocates "Creativity Day."
    * Larry, my friend the retired minister and sociology professor, likes the idea of an "International Day of Contrition."
    * I would have everyone celebrate "Faith Day."

What "holy day" do you think should be observed?

5. Change

If the only constant is change — as paradoxical as that might seem — it would behoove us all to learn how to deal gracefully with it.

For the rest of the day, change your cell phone ringtone or put your watch on the opposite wrist. (Really, do this.)

Now, each time your phone rings or you look at an empty patch of skin instead of finding out the time, notice of how you react. Your reaction to this change is going to inform you as to your natural, pre-wired response to change.

Change is just change. It isn't inherently good or bad. It's just different.

See if over the course of the day you can learn from yourself and accept both change as well as your reactions to it.

6. Have to and Get to.

See if, for the rest of the day, you can substitute the verb "get" for "have."

For example, if you were going to say, "I have to check my e-mail," say instead, "I get to check my e-mail."

It's amazing how the little change of one word can affect our attitude.

7. E-mail from God.

Imagine you open your in-box and find an e-mail with the subject line:
An e-mail from God.

What do you imagine the message would contain?

    * Praise?
    * Condemnation?
    * An answer to a question that you've been asking?
    * Advice?
    * A forwarded joke?

What about your response? What would you write back? And how would you sign it?

8. Rip Van Me.

Imagine that at half the age you currently are, you fell asleep. And, imagine that you slept right through (like Rip Van Winkle) until today. What five things would be most surprising to you?

9. Past Advice.

If you could go back in time to when you were half your current age, what spiritual-religious advice would you want to tell yourself?

10. God & Therapy.

If you were in a couples counseling with God, what three issues might you want to address about your and God's relationship?