Being completely transparent here, I admit that I am a Jesus loving Christian but I do not routinely go to church.  One weird perk that came out of covid was the creation of livestreams and media archives of church services.  Now, this is right up my alley listening to the service in the comfort of my own home two days later while I clean the house!  I know, I know I miss the sense of community…. as an introvert I generally cringe at the word community.   

The best Sunday sermons for me involve ambling in nature and communing with the trees in the forest by myself or with one of my family members.  After working all week which involves a fair share of talking and listening to both patients and coworkers I crave, like the crocuses crave sunlight, the spaciousness of the sacred forest, the quiet.   Ahh the sacred quiet, just the snap and crunch of the forest bed under my feet, the songs of the birds, and the luminous quality of being alone with my thoughts and God.

 So, this week’s archived sermon got me musing about the gifts of the spirit.   At first, I thought the pastor was going to start talking about the fruits of the spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23 ^– But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  I have always enjoyed these delicious ways to embody the Spirit, all these holy characteristics that help us to set intentions for our lives and yoga practices and to remind us that true spirituality is about becoming more like Christ.  But no fruit in this sermon, the pastor was discussing gifts of the spirit, another way to embody our spirituality and to be of service in our own unique way.

As the sermon began to unfold, I found myself a bit uncomfortable as it was difficult for this atypical Christian to start thinking about service.   I began envisioning signing up for the bake sale or helping with the children’s room at church.  This is one type of service or gift of the spirit that some more extroverted folks thrive at but there are so many other ways to serve.  After I heard about the many other ways, I began to feel more worthy, more like I could see my tribe in the crowd of gifts and my tribe was not front and center.  In fact, my way to serve is not about the other, it is about me and my relationship to God and how I serve him best, by being the child of God he created me to be.  I didn’t have to ‘do’ or dance for him to show him I am imbued with his gifts; I simply need to be who he created.  You see, the gifts of the spirit are unique to the individual and are predetermined by God.

You are probably wondering what are these gifts and how can I find out what mine is!  These gifts are mentioned in a few chapters in the Bible, here is one reference from 1 Corinthians.  Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.  1 Corinthians 12:7-11.  It is my understanding that the Spirit distributes a primary gift to each of us but we can certainly cultivate other gifts if we are called to do so.  However, the idea that we are all crafted differently to provide for the many needs of God is such a beautiful thing. 

Another reference to these gifts is found in Romans 12 the title to the section is humble services in the body of Christ.  Yes, we are the body of Christ and there are so many ways to humbly express this.  We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;  if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. -Romans 12: 6-8.   In many of these, I feel at home.   There is nothing I have to do but simple be who God created me to be. 

I have often thought that my super power is kindness, and I truly feel like the spirit is moving through me when I am present for another or when I am teaching a yoga class. By accepting these gift that are freely given to us by choosing to walk with Christ we literally become his hands and feet and do his work here on earth and it doesn’t take grand gestures, remember we are humble servants.  We simple put on his characteristics or embrace our gifts and we shine a bit brighter, the Spirit emanating through our actions.

As I was reflecting on this topic during a walk in the woods, the sacred space where I often gain my gift of insight and wisdom, I thought about how the gifts of the spirit and karma and bhakti yoga seem to align.  Karma yoga is the yoga of selfless service, it is often used to ‘make peace’ with our work life, bringing our best selves and our gifts with us no matter what type of work we do.  Bhakti yoga is a close cousin to karma yoga, as it the yoga of devotion.  Some may say this represents devotion to God, a devotion to the quality of oneness or an open-hearted loving union found in yoga that goes with us where ever we go.  You see  yoga is so much more than how we can move our bodies, it is a way of life that promotes well-being of the self and the world around us.  

 I have always found a spaciousness in my spirituality when I consider pathways and doorways to God and union other than my origins of faith in Catholicism.  Karma yoga specifically involves using our daily life including work to come into union with or to serve God.  Or we could say be being filled by the gifts of the spirit we are more able to meet our moments with true presence and purity.  Karma yoga has its roots in the famous Indian scripture the Bhagavad Gita.  This tale tells the gripping story about a warrior and his God just before battle. The battle is symbolic for the battle within and the struggle for self-mastery and to ultimately live a life that is worthwhile and meaningful, (karma yoga).   We could also say that karma yoga is finding right relationship with God and truly finding one’s life purpose as the gifts of the spirit advocate.

Ram Dass a famous yogi and author of several books including Be Here Now says this about Karma Yoga; Karma Yoga is the taking of the things you do every day with other people, of service, things like that, and making those all into an offering. And so it’s an attitude that one has. It’s an attitude of offering, and it’s an attitude of seeing how the actions you are performing mean so much more. It is that which will bring you to yoga or union into the One , and it takes the stuff you do every day to do that.  

I appreciate that what Ram Dass is saying is that our life is spiritual work.  This means we grow spiritually not just be attending Church services and studying our bibles, both valuable endeavors, but it is the day to day actions and how we live our lives that brings us closer to the Spirit.  To each of us grace has been given, this grace is our own unique gifts of the spirit, to live a life that reflects the One that created us.  Just like how different trees will cast a different image onto a clear blue lake, we each reflect back to God and to each other that which was gifted to us.