Spiritual RenewalFaith-based Activities in University Fitness and Adventure Courses That Encourage
Spiritual Development
Christian Society for Kinesiology & Leisure StudiesJune 2011
Lorraine Wilson, Ed.D.Abilene Christian University
Abilene, TX
Introduction Query
Departmental Faculty
CSKLS on Facebook
Responses: Fitness and Adventure Course Teachers Department: 60% replied, which covered most
classes of interest
Facebook: 0 (one comment, no informational replies)
Readings and Personal Reflection
Faith & FitnessSimple Beginning: Scripture in Each Course Syllabus
Yoga Christian emphasis
in music
Meditation based on scripture or prayer
Boot Camp Scripture of the
day
Walk/Jog for Fitness Scripture on
Lunsford Trail
Post signs/write with chalk on sidewalk
Swimming for Fitness Prayer lap(s)
First Aid/CPR/AED Prayer circle
Reflection paper
Health Courses VOW
Note writing
God’s principles
Program Planning Daily scripture
reading
FBI program plan
Leadership/Mgmt Daily scripture
reading
Leadership principles from the Bible
Kinesiology We are intricate,
amazing creations of God
Prayer requests
Lifetime Wellness Spiritual wellness
assessment
Faith Triathlon
Journaling
Gratitude, Prayer
Barnabas Note
Virtual Vacation
Reflection Paper
Faith in AdventureSimple Beginning: Scripture in Each Course Syllabus
Scuba Diving Logbook
Video Story
Dive Briefings and De-briefings (Reef Ministry)
Scrapbook Traditional
Digital
Snowskiing
Evening Praise & Prayer Time
Invite persons off the mountain to join in the devotionals
Discussion of our reputation at the lodge due to our behavior as different than many other ski trip groups
Backpacking & Canoe Camping
Devotionals
Reflective dialogue about spiritual/fellowship/faith
Q & A sessions “What did you learn today?”
“What were you thankful to God for today?”
“How have you grown in this Christian community?”
Outdoor Adventure Direct focus on spiritual renewal, thus
frequent discussion of physical, spiritual, social and emotional wellness
Journaling
Personal collage
Devotional
Reflection Paper
Encouraging Spiritual Development
Facing Our Faith
But you desire honesty from the heart, so you can teach me to be wise in my inmost being. Psalm 51:6
Participants in our courses can be guided to ask themselves: What’s my story? What’s my experience of God?
Indwelling faith can be expressed outwardly as we grow from the reflection and sharing.
Struggles can be seen as shared and placed in a healthy perspective.
“Commemorate” days/events/moments in our lives that have spiritual significance.
“Seek and you will find…” - Explore your faith journey through alternating physical challenges and peace-filled moments.
Your journal, devotional thoughts, collage, photos, videos, digital story, etc… become “a sacred place to record and request, to highlight and honor, to celebrate and surrender to the movement of God in your life.” (Soneff, 9)
Wilderness BenefitsBaylor Johnson: Spiritual Benefits of Wilderness
The Enduring ~ encountering and enduring through the direct experience of wilderness where we come face to face with ancient things and timeless cycles
The Sublime ~ the power of the wilderness and its capacity to incite awe, to bring us spiritual joy and peace despite the difficult circumstances it can set for us (exhaustion, challenge, deprivation)
Beauty ~ seeing, smelling, feeling beauty that is more than for the eye alone
Competence ~ successfully meeting challenges empowers us and these feelings contribute to the calm, quiet spirit we often sense in the outdoors
Experience of Peace ~ the product of all the other benefits combined, physical removal from everyday anxieties and meeting immediate challenges outdoors leaves us feeling peaceful, worthy and open to spiritual meanings
Self-forgetting ~ again, the product of all the other benefits, which command our attention, leaving little room for direct concern with self
Spiritual BackcountryPaul E. Marsh: Backcountry Adventure as Spiritual Experience
Attributes – Consequences – Values
Adventure opportunities play a major role in providing the setting for personal wellbeing and spiritual development. Solitude
Skill development
Tranquility
Beauty
Participants valued: Transcendent experiences
Increased self-awareness, connection to nature and appreciation/gratitude
Sense of peace, fulfillment, restoration and confidence
Implications: Design and facilitate additional adventure
recreation and education programs focused on offering a spiritual outcome
Strengthen links between exercise-health attributes, skill and spiritual development; support introspection, reflection, etc.
Spiritual DevelopmentPaul Heintzman: A Conceptual Model of Leisure and Spiritual Well-Being
“…leisure experiences, which involve an interplay of time, activity, motivation and setting, have the potential to provide contexts in which the spiritual is explored rather than repressed…
In addition, a leisure style provides repeated opportunities to translate leisure experiences of a spiritual nature into spiritual development.
ActivitiesThe Tried, The True and The New
The Tried, The True Devotionals
Journaling
Prayer (Acknowledge, Confess, Thanks, Supplication)
Personal Reflections (written or spoken)
Scrapbooking (traditional or digital)
Video Story
Course Evaluation
Journaling Photo-Journaling
Scrapbooking
The NewAshley Denton: The V.I.S.I.O.N. Scripture Study Plan
“For some reason when I’m out in the wilderness alone with God, that uninterrupted space helps me focus my heart’s attention on God’s voice.”
One of the greatest gifts we give to people is to lead them to the feet of Jesus in the wilderness where both silence and natural sounds help us hear God in the place, through the pages of scripture and the practice of prayer.
V.I.S.I.O.N. Verse
Inspect
Seek to Understand
Implement
Obvious Question?
Nuisance (anticipated obstacles)
Digital Story Telling
What is your passion, insight, and motivation for the story?
Write for the moment. Who am I in the moment?
Who is my audience?
250-375 word script for 2-3 minutes of story
1 minute of film = approx. 3 hours of editing (at first)
Story Telling Steps1. Owning your insight
2. Owning your emotions
3. Finding the moment
4. Seeing your story
5. Hearing your story
6. Assembling your story
7. Sharing your story
Story CircleGround Rules
5-8 persons
10 minutes per person
Do not interrupt the speaker
Critique: Always begin with “Would you like some feedback?” and honor the person’s response. Be sensitive: “If it were my story, I…” or ask
“How did…?” or “What did…?” and so on
Personal Story Tellingand
Collaborative Story Telling
The videos in the original power point are large files that are not available on this website. Ebb and Flow and Spiritual Renewal: Big Bend will be available on YouTube.
Resources Handout includes notes and resources
Center for Digital Story Telling
ACU AT&T Learning Studio
Apology: Scripture in Big Bend film should be Psalm 100 not Psalm 1 – I will edit this later.