One day I shall write in this blog about the spiritual life of a church bureaucrat… but not today.

Today, as I prepare one of the rare sermons I preach each year, I am recalling how central sermon preparation was in my spiritual life as a preacher/pastor.

I did not do it as a spiritual discipline; I did it to have a good sermon ready by Sunday. But that weekly discipline of reading, reflecting, researching, considering the lives of the congregation members, delving deep into my own soul, and finding words to share that might be more than mere reflections or good stories or heartfelt advice – that seems to me to be, perhaps, the most profound way my own spiritual life was shaped and nurtured.

It was both task and gift, discipline and joy, struggle and (from time to time) liberation.

For most United Church ministers it has to happen almost every week; it is part of the job; it is what we are paid to do. It might not always feel very “spiritual.”

Sometimes we do not consider ourselves engaging in a “spiritual” life unless we are doing something unusual and, perhaps, even strange: not talking for 48 hours; walking in circles through a labyrinth; sitting in front of candles; writing poetry.

The life of Jesus, though, reminds us that while “the spiritual life” is sometimes retreat to the mountains it is most often being surrounded by the mundane, by life with its challenges, by those making demands, by breaking bread, eating… by preaching in the synagogue.

It is one of the many bonuses in the life of preachers that a significant part of their paid work is to engage in such a deep, weekly, life-changing spiritual practice as sermon preparation.

It is hard, but I hope preachers can accept that unwarranted bonus as a gift… and not neglect it.

Posted by Doug Goodwin