Ordinarily Spiritual by Annie Try

Why am I finding it difficult to write a blog today?  Blame PD James!

The other day (Saturday to be precise when I was trying to write something to use in church) I came across a quote from The Black Tower where a 10-year old is talking to a priest who has his diary open in front of him.  The boy says,

"It's just an ordinary diary then?  It isn't about your spiritual life?"

"This is the spiritual life," the priest answers gently, "the ordinary things one does from hour to hour."

Wow!  So now everything I am doing - washing up, brushing my hair, feeding the cat, banishing mould from the motorhome with water running up my sleeve and moss falling in my hair etc., it's all spiritual? That can't be right.  I can imagine some things are almost holy - singing songs in a Sunday service, praying, even walking the dog (which probably feels spiritual because I usually leave it to my husband), but all the ordinary things?

PD James is only a writer, not an apostle or anything.  Maybe this time she has it wrong.  On the other hand, she does have some thoughtful treasures hidden away in her novels.

Perhaps I'm the one who has the divide in my mind.  Some things are just duties, some are just for fun, then there are the serious bits.  It's easy to make the serious bits spiritual, just by praying them through.  I am glad to be able to hang on to God when I am talking to someone about their cancer, or praying with a friend.  Writing for Church bubbles along in a mostly spiritual fashion and even my novels for teens and adults have spirituality creeping in or underpinning.

What about the jobs I resent - perhaps because it's not my turn to do them?  Perhaps because I feel overburdened or tired.  Maybe I can leave those out of this spirituality thing.  Just for a while.  I'd find it hard to be spiritual all the time.  Although there is that slightly troubling little verse near the middle of Colossians 3:

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

All right, I give in, this is the spiritual life full of ordinary things. Now I've sorted that out, maybe I can write the blog.

Oh, I think I've done it!

As Angela Hobday, Annie Try has co-written four books designed for professionals working therapeutically with children and teens.  Much of her writing time is now taken up with working on YA and adult novels.  She lives in West Norfolk with her husband and enjoys being with her five children and their families.  She loves dancing, reading and playing the cello.

Angela is ACW Vice-Chair without Portfolio and a local group leader.  She is also on her Church's leadership team. 

www.annie-try.co.uk