The 4 P’s I’m Passing on to My Kids
Written by: Bryan Willkom
What exactly do we pass on to our kids spiritually?
He’s my working list.
I hope it helps or at least helps you think about what you’d like to pass on. What’s on your list? I’d love to hear. Leave a comment below.
1. presence
I'm with you, I'm here for you. God is too. You can be there for others. Being present to yourself, God, nature, others, the needs of your neighbors is a beautiful thing. When we’re present, we’re paying attention- and attention is half of all spiritual growth. Sometimes, turning off your phone is the most spiritual thing you can do.
2. permission
You have permission to explore freely without judgment or shame. ask questions. read widely. try a different church. find what works for you. be yourself. investigate truth claims. You’re allowed to not have it all figured out, change your mind or say I don’t know. You’re also free to NOT have an opinion. If your soul’s gps suddenly says “rerouting” that’s OK.
3. pauses
Press the pause button every once in awhile to slow down and soak up some peace. This will help you reflect on your life, your decisions, your relationships, your struggles, your future, etc. Pausing could look like quiet morning coffee, talking to God in your car, hiking in nature, gratitude journaling, silent meditation, a restful yoga class, stopping at a park on your way home from work, a peaceful walk in your neighborhood, a moment of stillness to appreciate the beautiful sky etc.
4. practices
“We do not think ourselves into new ways of living, we live ourselves into new ways of thinking.” - Richard Rohr. Spiritual health is less about believing all the right things and more about practicing the right things over time. Figuring out what spiritual practices work for you is one of life's greatest journeys and an important part of your overall wellbeing. Humans were created for connection, so it’s important to practice both on your own AND in community. Practicing human connection is one of the best things you can do these days - with people who make you better.
a few other things…
***Beware of expensive classes or wellness movement marketing… pausing shouldn’t cost a lot of $$ or become a comparison trap
***Take caution around mega churches, stages or performance Christianity. A great sermon or worship set doesn’t mean it’s a healthy spiritual space.
***Be kind to the people who say they have “the truth” or “the Bible says” or ask you “how sure are you that you’re going to heaven?”. They’re more lost than they realize.
***Religion is often obsessed with right beliefs. Jesus is more interested in right action - your choices, habits, practices, lived values, etc.
***In a world saturated with a.i., phones, online opinions, new technology, endless content, etc. - our physical presence becomes a form of resistance. The more artificial everything becomes, the more we’re going to need what’s real - each other.
