In part 1, I wrote about a fear I had that pastors don't spend a lot of time with the spiritual disciplines. Instead we fill our schedules with other things. Lack of formative activities leaves us empty inside while trying to perform our daily activities.

What's the solution? I believe rediscovering the power of traditional formative disciplines such as fasting, prayer, silence, solitude, meditation on Scripture and the masters is a step in the right direction. I realize that this is not a fancy or revolutionary solution. Instead I'm stating what I believe most of us already know.

Yet, if we already know how important spiritual disciplines are, why is it so difficult to find time for them? Why would I rather get up, scan the newspaper, eat some breakfast and get on with my day? Is it because I don't see the connection between who I am becoming and what I'm doing? Is it because I believe that if I spend time with the disciplines I won't have time to do the work I must do?

Actually, the reasons aren't that important. What is important is that we decide we want to live differently. If we are tired of living out of emptiness and are ready to begin a different journey, all that really matters is that we start.

Yet, it is not that easy. Many of us have realized we need something and have told ourselves we are going to get up early and pray, or start living the disciplines, yet, we give it up after a few weeks (or days).

Perhaps it is time to create "Pastoral Covenant Groups" where we create a covenant with others to live a certain way. This was one of the wonderful things about John Wesley's class meetings. People were committed to living by the General Rules. Each week they would meet to ask each other how they were doing by asking the question "how is it with your soul?" If we are serious about living life a different way, this is one way to make sure we do. I believe it is time that we, as pastors, lead the way in this. That we allow God to form our souls and lives by living the disciplines and allow them to transform our lives. I am convinced not only that we will be transformed, but so will the churches we serve and the people we love.