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.