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Sidewalk spirituality
"Sidewalk spirituality" is the kind of faith Jesus demonstrated that goes out into the world. (Shutterstock Image)
March 18, 2024
I have written about the Wesleyan way’s expression of many things found in the Franciscan tradition. [1] But I am not going back to that, lest I get stuck in my previous thinking. I want to write what I am thinking about now, even if I have written similarly in the past.
Today, Richard Rohr’s term “sidewalk spirituality” is what has captured my attention, a term he says describes the essence of the Franciscan tradition in which he finds himself. [2] This kind of spirituality is exactly what the Wesleys emphasized in their term “practical divinity.” It is the kind of spirituality described in the term “ordinary holiness.”
Sidewalk spirituality ends up being the only kind there is, because the life of God in the human soul (Henry Scougal) is meant to hit the streets. Sidewalk spirituality is the only kind there is because as in Jesus, the Word is always meant to become flesh (John 1:14). Spirituality may come to us via language, but it must then be lived. Otherwise, it goes bad like unpicked fruit.
When the Holy Spirit indwells us and produces fruit, it is life characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness (generosity), and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). It is fruit lived, not left on the tree. Sidewalk spirituality forbids us from only admiring this fruit; it requires us to actualize it.
Sidewalk spirituality is the kind Jesus personified and that Paul described in Philippians 2:5-11. It is not left in heavenly places, but is rather taken into all the world. It is not held in the clutches of hubris, but rather handed out in the touches of humility. It gives, both as its means of staying alive and helping others to live as well. Sidewalk spirituality does little things with great love (St. Teresa of Calcutta), and it does this good to all (Galatians 6:10).
Years ago, I asked Richard Foster what his hope was after he taught something. He replied, “I hope people leave saying, ‘I can do that.’” Jesus taught us with that same hope. Sidewalk spirituality is our “I can do that” response to grace.
[1] See my previous post “Love: The Wesleys” (April 22, 2020) archived in the “Love” category as one example of my earlier thoughts about the Franciscan/Wesleyan connection.
[2] Richard Rohr ‘Eager To Love’ (Franciscan Media, 2014), 52. Rohr’s daily meditations this week (March 17-23, 2024) focus on everyday spirituality.