Are You Tending Your Spirit? (Guest Blogger Rev. Carol Pazdersky)

Balance is hard to achieve in life.

The legitimate needs of our families, work, friendships, and community each pull us in a different direction.

With so much going on in our lives, we can experience times when faith feels more like an obligation or our spirituality reduces to a check-off list.

Pressed for time and energy, we worship one hour a week, pray for emergencies, and think about service in the future.

Yet if we want to be whole, our personal spiritual development is as critical as every other part of our lives. We balance care for spouses, children, and aging parents – and we can balance our spiritual lives as well.

‘Fearfully and wonderfully made’* by our Creator, we are privileged to work with God in tending our spirits. God created us to worship, contemplate, and serve!

The image of a tree comes to mind when thinking of the spiritual life.

• Just as the roots of a tree anchor it and nourish it, our study and prayer anchors us and nourishes us.
• Just as the roots hold fast the shoot that in time becomes the tree reaching towards the sun, worship propels us upward and onward on our journey with God.
• Just as the well-rooted and growing tree cannot help but bear good fruit, out of our contemplation and devotion comes true service that feeds the world around us.

Over the next few months, we will consider each aspect of spiritual development and consider how we might bring balance to that part of our lives.

A balanced spiritual life will help support the rest of our wonderful, blessed, and busy lives!

About Carol Pazdersky

Carol Pazdersky is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church.  She serves Bel Air UMC in Bel Air, MD, as the Pastor for Congregational Care and Missions/Outreach and on the Boards of Faith Communities and Civic Agencies United  and Be the Change Baltimore addressing issues of homelessness.  On a daily basis, Carol ministers with women who are seeking to balance their personal, professional, and spiritual lives.  She is a wife, mother of three young adults, daughter of aging parents, friend, and animal lover and on the same journey to find balance. Her sermons are archived on the following sites:  www.MtCarmelChapel.org and www.BAUMC.com.

 

I’m Carol Pazdersky, a pastor at Bel Air United Methodist Church in Bel Air, MD (Jory’s church). Spiritual formation is my passion! I have seen so many women facing burn-out because of the heavy load they carry – being a supportive partner, involved parent, care-giving daughter, strong business leader, and dedicated friend. With all that is happening, the spiritual life can take a back-seat – and without the firm foundation of Jesus, we may feel like a dry well. What are your greatest spiritual needs? How can I offer support and encouragement for your journey? On the other hand, some women have figured out the balance between faith, family, friendship, and business. I would love to have you share your wisdom as well. Email me at pazderskyc@ baumc.com with your victories, challenges, questions, and thoughts, and I will respond to them in the coming months. I’m looking forward to sharing this journey with you.