TRANSPORT TO A DIVINE ENCOUNTER WITH LECTIO DIVINA

“Scotty, beam us up!” Captain Kirk and the heroes of Star Trek called on the wizardry of 23rd century Transporting to move from one place to another. I recently experienced a mental/spiritual transport through the practice of Lectio Divina. The Latin phrase means, “divine reading.” Monks began the practice 1400 years ago to open their minds to God in a deeper way. Taking time to listen with the heart, rather than analyze with the mind, is central to the practice. In this episode, I share a personal experience and some guidelines to practice this method of spiritual experience that may unlock new paths of well-being.

Segments include:

"Transported" by the practice of Sacred Reading

A personal journey to the Sea of Galilee

Four-fold practice of the Reading

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Transcript

“Scotty, beam us up!” Captain Kirk and the heroes of Star Trek called on the wizardry of 23rd century Transporting to move from one place to another in their epic quest to go where no man had gone before. In Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Kirk even beams up beautiful Gillian with him to the Enterprise. Wow! 

I recently experienced a mental/spiritual transport through the practice of Lectio Divina. During a retreat led by spiritual director, Dr. Mallory Wyckoff, our group was taken to the shores of the Sea of Galilee. There stood Jesus, teaching from a boat, to a crowd from the village.[1] We joined the crowd through minutes of guided reflection, transported like James Kirk to a different place and time.

 What is Lectio Divina? The Latin phrase means, “divine reading.” Monks began the practice 1400 years ago to open their minds to God in a deeper way. Taking time to listen with the heart, rather than analyze with the mind, is central to the practice. Ruth Haley Barton shares, “When we engage the scriptures for spiritual transformation, we make it our top priority to listen to God relationally rather than seeking only to learn more about God cognitively. Our approach is driven by the longing of a lover… Scripture becomes an instrument of God’s control rather than a tool that we control to our own ends.”[2]

The dynamic relational experience between God and our personal experience is a foundation for the practice of sacred reading. Progressive theologies (Process or Open and Relational Theism) teach that God is active in every yoctosecond of our life. This presence pervades every atom of our body and every thought that courses in our neurons. In our mind, God nurtures the possibilities of each moment toward the best outcome. A person may sense an intuition, wish, longing, or behavior that moves toward well-being.[3] God invites our collaboration in these conceptual experiences, a friend and lover who delights in the Oneness of life.

In my experience that day, I became one of the frustrated fishermen, weary after a night that only brought empty nets to the shore. I listened to the young rabbi who challenged me to have hope that God was working to bring a new way of living in an oppressive world. I felt skeptical when Peter followed the rabbi’s instruction to try ineffective daylight fishing. But the awe and wonder swept over me as my boat helped with an incredible catch of fish! We celebrated with Jesus for hours. The next morning though, he was gone, taking some friends. I was left wondering, “What’s next? What do I do if this rabbi is right about God’s work in my world?”

With this imaginative encounter fresh in my mind, I returned—transported—to my real world and the challenges of life. I was wondering “What’s next?” just like the villagers of Galilee. What should I do, can I do, in this chaotic season of American life?

The steps of Lectio Divina are simple. Barton offers a four-phase plan: Read, Reflect, Respond, Resolve.[4]

The Reading should be slow to allow each passage to draw us within the narrative. This is not a time for in depth analysis or complex theology. We seek to savor the words and context as portals to the world of the passage at hand.

Reflecting takes place as the passage is read again. Here is the place of listening to the Spirit within. We open our mind to the spotlight of the divine connection to a particular phrase, character, action, or dialogue that begins to resonate with our spiritual journey. In my experience, becoming one of the fishermen grabbed my attention.

A third reading moves to Responding. We link our humanity as it is to what we have heard. We sense an emotion welling up, an insight into our personality, or a link to the Divine that grasps our soul. The response is authentic, perhaps unvarnished and raw, to the conversation with our sacred Companion.

From this interaction we carry forward with a new Resolve that seeks to enact what we experienced. Certainly, every experience brings change. Yet this mystical moment has probed deeper to bring a linger, even lasting, adjustment to our journey. 

Many in the retreat session with Dr. Wyckoff shared what they encountered. One had identified with a bird watching from above, while another connected with the unworthiness of Peter. A man spoke about the risks of going to “deeper water” and a woman about her frustrated longing to follow Jesus like the men.  The comments were not about doctrines, textual variations, or how someone else should believe but about the intimate encounter of “I and Thou.”

Lectio Divina can be the moment the Word takes on a new flesh to once again save the world. God’s work, usually deeply hidden beyond our awareness, delivers a vivid reality that transports our imagination to a new dimension. Thankfully, unlike the few disciples who walk away with Jesus in Luke 5, an invitation is extended to anyone to follow for a new journey of faith!    

[1] Luke 5:1-11
[2] Ruth Haley Barton, Spiritual Rhythms. IVP Books, 2006. P 50
[3] Jay McDaniel, What is Process Thought? Seven Answers to Seven Questions. Process Century Press, 2020. Excerpts online at https://www.openhorizons.org/christian-process-theology-an-introduction-by-jay-mcdaniel.html
[4] Barton, p 56F. I’ve changed the last phase from her Rest to Resolve.