God was there, comforting me with, “ask me instead.” The problem was that I never recognized it for what it was. I didn’t have the skills to recognize it. I was busy with my Sunday School lessons memorizing and reciting. I never learned how to listen, I only learned how to absorb. So, as I struggled with not living a life worthy of God, I just thought it was me not listening, rebelling, or rejecting this critical piece of life that was required for salvation.

Today’s scripture lesson really only includes verses 41-44 - where we hear that Jesus wept over the city. I found it important for this reflection to include the full story back to verse 28 so you have some context. Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem and the disciples bring him a colt to ride into the city - the city where he knows he is going to be crucified. The people sing praises to his name and the Pharisees tell him to send them away. We usually hear this text on Palm Sunday in the liturgical church.

Spiritual disciplines are practices for developing, growing, and strengthening our ability to hear and recognize God in, with, and through our lives. While there is no formal, almighty, list of spiritual disciplines, some are more common than others. Throughout time, people have made suggestions about how to categorize them. Suggestions have included concepts like corporate or individual, internal or external, self-denial or action. I find it best to leave them uncategorized. I often feel pressure to choose equally from each category.