GROWING TOGETHER

The exercises below are taken from Celebrating the Disciplines: A Journal Workbook to Accompany Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster and Kathryn A. Yanni (San Francisco: HarperSanFran-cisco, 1992). You should read the corresponding chapter of Celebration of Discipline prior to doing the exercises.

Chapter 1, The Spiritual Disciplines: The Disciplines are means to receiving Divine grace, not exercises in self-improvement. As you begin your journey through the Spiritual Disciplines, affirm God's presence with you and ask him to refresh your perspective on why it is important to practice the Disciplines.

Chapter 2, The Discipline of Meditation: Identify a particular place that provides a setting of beauty and spend thirty minutes there, contemplating all the ways in which you can see God's gifts in it. Or, simply be silent and listen for what God may have to communicate to you. If you desire to, take along a notebook and write down your thoughts.

Chapter 3, The Discipline of Prayer: This chapter primarily focuses on the prayer of intercession— asking God to supply the needs

of others. Set aside five to ten minutes each day to practice listening for guidance as a prelude to intercessory prayer.

Chapter 4, The Discipline of Fasting: Fast from something that does not involve food—for example, the entertainment media, passing judgment on yourself or others, people (to experience solitude), impulsive speech, printed media.

Chapter 5, The Discipline of Study: Choose a brief selection from a book and practice the four steps of repetition, concentration, comprehension, and reflection. Ask yourself, "Do I read to be changed by the truth or to avoid doing the truth?"

Chapter 6, The Discipline of Simplicity: Monitor your attitudes and behavior regarding material possessions as you encounter them in your daily activities this week. Write down your observations in your journal.

Chapter 7, The Discipline of Solitude: Look for "little solitudes" among the ordinary experiences of your week. Write down in journal entries when and where you found opportunities, how you spent them, and what difference they made in your day or week.