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Here you will find a collection of past "Spirit Food" essays.

Bed of Nails
By Flo Speers
Posted 19 March, 2008

In India, healing is thought to come through resting on a bed of nails. One wonders how that could be, not only the healing but also the very act of lowering oneself onto a bed of nails without getting hurt. The trick, I am told, is to have many, many nails all of exactly the same height. That way the pressure is absorbed evenly over the entire body and the skin is not pricked. However, if one nail sticks up a bit more than all the others it will puncture the skin, bleeding occurs, the hurt gets full attention and the body is no longer at rest.

Over a lifetime each one of us experience hurts. Some are remembered, others not, and some are prompted to memory by a time of year, perhaps a birthday or a Christmas Carol, perhaps an odor or a sunset. Holidays can hold hurtful memories for some.

Some nails are longer and sharper than others and inflict deep hurt. However, without hurt we would not know the healing presence of God. As we turn to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the offending nail, while still present, is reduced in size to become just one of those experiences which have drawn us closer to Him, and we rest on a bed now made of our journey with Him, secure in His promise for us. Thus the bed of nails on which we rest becomes a bed of healing grace.

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

“The eternal God is our dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” Deuteronomy 33:27

Catch a Wave: A Conversation
By Flo Speers
Posted 24 February, 2008

Even more thrilling than riding a wave from the ocean, Father, is discovering how you speak to me through your word.

And your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk ye in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or the left.  Isaiah 30:21

I close my eyes for a moment to listen and pray for your guidance.

Be still and know that I am God.  Psalm 46:10

Who is He before whom I wait in stillness?

The Lord is your shade on your right hand,
The sun will not smite you by day nor the moon by night.
The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.
The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.  Psalm 121:5-8

--And your ears will hear a word—

Open my ears, Lord, that I may hear you.  Not only my ears.  Let my heart be open to your will.  Let my way become your way.

And He teaches the humble His way.  Psalm 25:9

--will hear a word behind you—

Your word comes from behind me, Lord.  From behind means that you are watching over my progress.  From behind means that as I move forward, you look over my shoulder and advise me.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go.  I will counsel you with my eye upon you.  Psalm 32:8

--whenever you turn to the right or the left—

When will I hear your wisdom, Lord?  When will I know your will for me?  As I move along the path I will walk with confidence.  You are always with me.  When there is a turn in the road I will hear your voice behind me. When there is a turn in the road I will stop, be still and listen.  For I know you will keep me on the path you have set for me.

All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and truth to those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.  Psalm 25:10

And your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk ye in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left.

Catch a Wave
By Flo Speers
Posted 18 January, 2008

One by one they come. It‘s just after daybreak. Carrying their surfboards, they set them down carefully on the sand. Now comes the ritual. Facing the sea, arms spread parallel to the ground; they stretch to one side, then the other. Now, arms forward, reaching down toward the ground to release all the tension, they stretch the muscles in their backs, shoulders, arms and hips. Their uniform is a wet-suit top and bathing suit bottom.  

Hers has a red torso with blue long sleeves. The bathing suit bottom is a red and white flowered pattern. I think she might be Hawaiian. Asian anyway with that very long hip-length black hair tied back in a ponytail and that long slender athletic body. She has performed the ritual to greet the sea. She stands a moment looking out at the tide. Now ready, she heads out on her board to catch a wave.  

I think about how I prepare myself to catch a wave of God's truth. My ritual is to get up early too, to make coffee, to gather my Bible and perhaps some books, my notebook and pencil. I come carrying my coffee cup. My uniform is robe and socks. I take a moment to settle myself and ask the Lord for his guidance. Then I head out into his word.

Spiritual Formation
by Donna Brayton

On August 23, 2007, I wrote the following in my journal:

My Lord and my God, one of the readings in your Word this morning was from Deuteronomy 7:22 - The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you little by little... I am taking this a bit out of context perhaps but you were talking about clearing out the promised land and all that you required from your people. If I look at my life in this context, the kingdom of God within me could be called the promised land and through the years of my journey with you, nations of sin have been driven out from within, little by little.

How nice it would have been for you to have come in and cleaned my house all at once. Washed away all the old habits of sinfulness once and for all so that I might have been able to live a truly holy life from that moment on! Even as I write these words I think how typical that thinking is. Instant success! Yet your way is a process of learning to walk with you within the promised land as you reveal to me, little by little, my sin that needs to be attended to and driven out.

How great are your ways my Father! How perfect are they! I think of all those that do not know your ways and probably for the first time in my life I find myself grieving for them. A few days ago as I stood in line to go through security at the airport, I looked at all your people there. So varied in looks and worldly status, and I remember thinking that these are all your children but how many of them really know you, and my eyes filled with tears. And then this morning I thought how many driving to work have their minds focused on you? How many even within your church really know you? How many understand what your calling to them really means?

Of late I have read and heard the description of "churchmen" meaning those who go to church regularly and think that is all there is without really knowing you. I certainly was there for a lot of years. I was desperate to know change in my life yet not knowing how to change it. So perhaps the "church people" and the "non-church people" have something very basic in common. Trying to find meaning in their lives, searching for change, while not finding the key to open the door. Not knowing how to "drive out the nations in the promised land, little by little." I don’t know where these thoughts are leading me this day but I lay myself before you. Do with me what you will. Teach me to love as you love. I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121: 1-2.

Donna Brayton is Director of Spiritual Direction, Christian Healing Center, Oceanside, California, and Director of Spiritual Formation and Small Group Ministry, St. Anne's Anglican Church, Oceanside, California