My twenties were an amazing decade. Likewise, my forties. (In my thirties, I had babies!)
In my twenties, besides moving to the UK and then the US, getting married, and earning two degrees, I
1 1) learned to ride a bike, aged 22.
2) learned to swim, aged 25.
3) learned to drive a car, aged 29.
4) learned to touch-type–and fast, aged 29.
Yeah, a late developer.
Generally, I do everything by books. Whether it’s hosting a children’s birthday party, gardening, or running a house, I tend to first buy three books on the subject which I quickly skim-read.
But for these achievements of my twenties—cycling, swimming, driving, typing—no amount of book learning would help. I just had to get in the pool, on the bike, behind the wheel, and do it.
· * * *
The truly life-transformational insights of my forties have been these.
1 1) That God loves me. That I can rest in his love. That I don’t need to do anything.
2) Learning to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. That when I am running ragged, I just need to stop and rest and wait for the filling of the Holy Spirit.
3) The Spiritual Passive Voice. Waiting. Trusting. Resting. Abiding. Not striving, but resting on the faithful one.
One can’t really learn these transformative spiritual practices from books. Or lectures from those who have mastered them–though these have helped me.
We can only learn them by “doing,”– resting in God, experiencing him, asking him to fill us with his Spirit.
Just hanging out with God.
They have to be caught, from the Father and the Spirit and Jesus—and then practised. They cannot really be taught. We learn them by doing them.
How about you? What has been spiritually transformational for you in the last decade? How did you learn it?
Read my new memoir: Rosaries, Reading, Secrets: A Catholic Childhood in India (US) or UK.
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My book of essays: Wandering Between Two Worlds (US) or UK
More from my site
Analysing my Experience of Prayer over the Last 19 Years
“Manon of the Spring” by Marcel Pagnol and the Justice of God
Opening a New Chapter, a New Year, Under the Eternal Eyes of the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End 
Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold
The Magical Moment in Which You Realize that You Are, or Will Be a Writer
Hi Dana, I am a full-time writer too, though the writing isn't supporting the family.
When we needed additional income, I started a business unrelated to my writing to pay the bills. I read about Dostoevsky who frantically wrote books to pay his bills, and sadly wished I had the guts to do that. But I lacked the faith and energy to even try to write to pay bills, and indeed the stress might have been too much for me.
Now, aspects of my writing bring in small sums money on a weekly, sometimes daily basis, and it's so exciting!!
Making a living as a writer is a dream few realize, and I salute you for your courage!!
After leaving my job as a teacher and embarking on a new career as a full-time writer, I was forced to find out what it truly means to live by faith. I didn't know from where or when my next paycheck would come. I had no idea if I could or would make it as a writer. There have been many mountains and many valleys over the past decade, but through it all I've learned that when Jesus is all that I have, He's all that I need! I haven't arrived yet in my spiritual journey, but I'm finally learning to enjoy the ride.
A Word Fitly Spoken
http://danarongione.blogspot.com
Thanks, Rachel. I too have learned some dark things in the last decade, specifically the stuff in the link I sent you, and on the same lines as you mention.
But, as you allude to, strength does come out of those places of weakness and suffering:-)
The last decade? I have learned about friendships. Specifically: loss, betrayal, hypocrisy and gossip. Also abuse, depression, grief and many of my own weaknesses. However, with all of that I have learned what it is like to lurch forward into darkness and feel God catch me. Over and over.
Thanks Penelope. That sounds like a very difficult lesson.
Your ministry through blogging, social media and leading pilgrimages may well reach even more people than the ordained ministry which has been temporarily laid down. And who knows what God will do in the next decade of your rich and fruitful life!
This has really made me think … because in the past decade I have been given a new (Ordained, priestly) ministry in which I was privileged to see the Lord powerfully at work in others; and then had it almost, or mostly, removed from me for a while. And in the giving and the taking, the Lord has taught me that it is HIS ministry, not mine. And I have had to learn to say “the Lord gives and the Lord takes away – blessed be the name of the Lord.” It is as though I have had to learn to hold it out on the palm of my hand so that He can pour out blessing or not, as HE chooses; and not to try to grab tight hold of it (for fear of losing it or for wanting to call it mine). It is all from Him and all for Him – and when and where is His choice.
Thank you for helping me to look back and 'see' the lesson of the past decade, Anita.