Spiritual Playlist

Years ago my wife Patt and I became middle school catechists.  How we got there is another story but as we embarked on this journey it became evident that there was much for us to learn.  We started with a curriculum that gave us direction but just using a handbook was not going to be enough to be effective for those hungry young people we were engaging. 

We started to study Scripture and the Catechism for our own better understanding.  We even started listening more to Christian music for some inspiration and insight.  I say insight because much of Christian music is inspired by the Scriptures or expressions of praise and glory to God.  At one point we encouraged our students to listen to Christian music and we invited them to suggest a Christian song that inspired them that we could use in our prayers at class.

Our lives were very busy at that time with family activities, the job, and we did a fair amount of traveling.  Fully engaging as catechists we became hungrier for a deeper relationship with God. We searched for ways to grow in our relationship with God in prayer, in the Mass and engaging in activities at church.  Reading more about the saints, studying the Catechism, praying the rosary, and listening to Christian music, all became more fulfilling and fed our souls. 

As I contemplated more on all these spiritual aspects, the secular things of life became less important to me.  Traveling was always exciting to me but eventually less important as a priority on the goal list.  I always enjoyed the music of the 60’s and 70’s (and who doesn’t) but that too became secondary to the Christian music I was listening to more regularly. 

I speak much about music in this reflection but that is not my total point here.  Now when I speak of playlists I think not just of music but more about what is playing in our minds and souls regularly and how does it feed our spirit.  The concept of creating a spiritual playlist and storing our favorites for easy and regular access no matter the media, is a great way to help deepen our relationship with God. 

Although I have my favorite musical tunes, what I listen to has changed during different stages of my life.  Of course growing up in the 60s and 70s I heard some of my favorite tunes that somewhat helped form my attitudes on my current affairs.  As I got older the tunes changed and although I still had some specific tunes I liked, my playlist of music and reading expanded and changed.  The Christian tunes began to hit home to me more because their messages began to have a deeper application to my life.

What is it that circulates through our minds over and over again that has great value and meaning to us? Are they thoughts of our family and those who are important to us?  Are they thoughts of the things that we take pleasure? Or maybe they help us focus on certain goals that we have.  Do they bring us closer to God?  Those various things that continually circulate through our minds are really our own personal playlist. As you can imagine, over time our playlists change. Converting our personal playlist into a more spiritual playlist has many benefits as God has intended.

Our playlist doesn’t have to be based on music.  Our playlist may consist of a list of our favorite prayers that we are committed to praying on a regular basis. An example could be praying the Liturgy of the Hours on a daily basis.  It could be saying the rosary for special intentions every day.  It could be praying the chaplet for someone dying or for someone who has died.  Your playlist could be reading the Liturgical Readings of the Day (on usccb.org) and listening to the reflections. It could be starting with any of these and adding other prayers that help you feel closer to God.  It could be reading the Saints of the Day. Their various stories are very inspiring. 

For me music became another stepping stone. Eventually I did develop a playlist of spiritually inspired instrumental music that helped put me in a space where I could hear God’s message.  Even that original playlist was whittled down to a more specific list of music each with a title that inspires me in a certain way.

Whether it is through Scripture, through a Catholic podcast, praying the rosary or chaplet, reading about the saints, praying some of your favorite prayers, or listening to music, developing your own playlist that welcomes God into your being regularly can be an incredible spiritual journey.  Within that playlist, that space, He joins you knowing you are ready to hear His voice and draw closer to Him. God brings a peacefulness to you that only He can provide. When we do, we Shine Like the Son.  God bless you in your journey.

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