Today, I experienced a euphoric moment with my swimming coach. While coaching me through some land-based swimming movements, he said, “Slow down and relax the muscles. The slower and more relaxed you are, the harder it is on the muscles, the better the mind is cleansed of the old pattern and then, when you apply the movement in the water, the more efficient you become.”
Isn’t this like the spiritual life?
Spiritual exercises are like physical exercises preparing us to execute a sport. Spiritual exercises, such as the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, must be learned and practised faithfully, slowly, and deliberately. Like a toddler learning to ride a bicycle, initially there’s the feeling of awkwardness and discomfort. Still, we are guaranteed to become more efficient in applying them to our daily lives.
“. . .For just as strolling, walking and running are exercises for the body, so ‘spiritual exercises’ is the name given to every way of preparing and making ourselves ready to get rid of all disordered affections so that, once rid of them, one might seek and find the divine will in regard to the disposition of one’s life for the salvation of the soul” (First Annotation, The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius).
Beloved Reflections 