The second chapter of Mariann Budde’s book, “Receiving Jesus: The Way of Love” describes the spiritual practice (and life practice) of Learning. The idea of “learning” in the context of spiritual practices can often become narrowly focused on one definition, albeit an important one: learning Scripture. I am pleased to read in Bishop Budde’s discussion of the practice of learning that she goes beyond the reading of Scripture. She begins and ends with this vital spiritual practice, but she reaches beyond to the world around us and she stretches our imaginations in ways that encourage the reader to look at the many aspects of our lives. The varieties of opportunities for learning help us grow in unique and organic ways, and in ways that bring us closer to God.

Budde begins her discussion on the spiritual practice with these encouraging words, “As a backdrop for exploring the fruits of such a practice, I’d like to approach the topic of learning about God and from God in the broadest of terms, for God is everywhere. Everywhere we go, everything that happens, every person we meet can be a means through which we grow in our knowledge and love of God.” I believe this is one of the most important thoughts in the chapter, for it transforms the common idea that “learning is done in a particular place” into the reality that “learning is about being attentive to life about you” as you live in the world, each day. I strongly believe this understanding also transforms the “traditional church” view of “Sunday morning worship” as the primary, if not only, experience we have with God, into the more expansive view that Sunday morning has its place, but God waits for us around every corner, at every minute. If this practice is welcomed into one’s life, God awaits us in so many new times and places!

Budde then walks through a few important ways we can learn: from Love, from Creativity, from Pain, and most significantly, from Jesus. Briefly outlined below, each subject gives the reader something important to reflect upon and consider. Beginning with Love, she quotes Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, “there is power in love!” Budde describes that the power in love can be found “as we come to know and trust the unconditional love of God, revealed to us in Jesus, we grow in our capacity to accept human failings in love, our own and that of others,” and we find God, for God is Love. Our learning from Creativity brings us into harmony and practice with God, who is the eternal Creator. Budde writes that creative and imaginative undertakings in our life give us true life. “The work that delights and satisfies is what causes us to give our best efforts no matter the cost, that best aligns us with the creative energy of God. In spiritual language, this work is our vocation, our calling, part of the reason we are here.” Learning from Pain is something that no one looks forward to, and it is a subject not to be glossed over or romanticized for the sake of “future growth.” But pain is a real part of life and a road that we all encounter from time to time. Budde rightly asks, “How can we thank God in sorrow?” She reflects that in our sorrows and pain, we can find God’s mercies and love, often coming through the divine channels of others’ kindness and prayers. These painful times can bring us closer to the tenderness and vulnerabilities of life: these moments are our personal “desert wanderings” experienced by God’s children of the Exodus. And finally, we learn from Jesus, through the reading of Scripture and prayer. When we prayerfully reflect on the lessons of Jesus, we find ourselves in the stories, we find we are connected in small, personal ways and we are connected in timeless, cosmic ways to God, in Christ. This is the power of the one staring into the stars in the picture above. I find this picture powerful, with the light shining into the darkness from the head-lamp…the light of the lamp seemingly insignificant as it casts it beam into the broad expanse above, yet it is also joining the chorus of light from the billions of stars above. Where the light goes, we do not exactly know. Where our love goes, we do not exactly know…except we are filled with faithful confidence that love joins the eternal love of God, who is LOVE. I believe to have the confidence to believe we can be part of the eternal love of the universe requires us to draw close to the power of that love, God, so that we may learn the ways of love. The spiritual practice of Learning is truly an important part of our life with Christ.