Spreading mud on blind eyes, drawing in the dirt, washing smelly feet — one thing is for sure: Jesus wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. And in the midst of his down-to-earth work, the gaze of his heart was always heavenward. He did ​“what he saw his Father doing” (John 5:18). 

His life was a seamless garment of contemplative prayer and loving action, showing us that the physical and the spiritual are never in competition. The material world he helped speak into existence is still worthy of the divine blessing: ​“it’s good.”

Indeed, far from being opposed to it, matter is God’s chosen way to interact with us. ​“God is manifest to us through material means,” Richard Foster reminds us.

This month’s focus, the Incarnational Tradition, ​“concerns itself with the relationship between spirit and matter.” Nathan Foster recently interviewed Richard about this stream, also called the Sacramental Life. They talk about both the religious dimension — worship services and means of grace — and everyday life at home, work, and in relationships. 

Carolyn Arends rounds out our featured articles on the topic. She discovered ​“matter matters” through the surprisingly spiritual practice of running (or, as she says, ​“shuffling forward in a continuous motion.”)

May you be with God in the midst of whatever you do,