When
You're Feeling Spiritually Dry
There
are times when God feels as palpable and near as the breath passing
through our nostrils. Perhaps we’ve had some kind of religious
experience, or we’ve suddenly recognized an answer to prayer,
or we’ve felt hope in the midst of hopelessness. We cherish
those moments like we do the first feelings of love, and try to
keep them close by, where they will be safe and continue to nourish
us.
But
the days pass along. New encounters slip into our lives, pain
encroaches and leaves us raw, arguments tamper with our peace,
and stress coils snakelike in our soul, squeezing out joy. As
we respond to all these changes, we find ourselves losing our
hold on the memories of closeness with God that once were so potent
and real. We hardly notice at first.
Then
a moment comes when we start to feel something akin to thirst.
Our souls feel arid and scratchy. Our inner life seems as cavernous
as a dark, dry cave rugged with sharp stones. We feel drained
of the moisture of God’s grace. We cast about trying to
see what situations and people in our lives are to blame for our
malaise, when what is really needed is to turn ourselves away
from the situations, the encounters, and the stress and enter
a space where we can meet again the One who fills the thirst of
our soul with love and hope. It is not action but non-action that
is required.
We
need a time to refrain from analysis in order to feel the spirit
of heaven. We need to be the open flower ready to drink in the
sun.
Tip
to try: When you are feeling dryness in your soul, go
to a place where you can be in the presence of water—near
a lake, a pond, the ocean, a water fountain, or take a walk in
the rain. If you are unable to go to a large body of water, fill
a large bowl with water and sit near it. As you look at and hear
the movement of the water, close your eyes and imagine that the
water that is life-giving is being poured into your soul. Imagine
how your soul’s scratchiness is soothed by the wetness that
comes from God’s love. Take a moment to thank God for the
gift and grace of water, and for the replenishment of moisture
to your soul. As a final meditation, drink a glass of pure water
very slowly and mindfully, with gratitude in your heart.
