What is your touchstone?

A jeweler uses a touchstone to test the fineness of gold, silver and platinum.

Originally posted June 17, 2012, at Running with God. Republished with permission of the author.

Within the last few days I have encountered the term “touchstone” a couple of times and it made me stop and think.

The first time that I encountered the phrase was in the title for this past week’s Daily Meditation by Richard Rohr, which I have emailed to me so that I consciously take a chance to rest and reflect at least once during the day. The title was “Eucharist as Touchstone,” in which he emphasizes that it is through Eucharist that we should learn to measure all things. By partaking in this communal meal we are joined together in the body of Christ and feel the Spirit at work within us.

The second time that I encountered the term this past week was in a quote from Runner’s World, which I also get emailed to me on a daily basis. The quote is from Kristin Armstrong:

“In the midst of regular life, running is the touchstone that breathes adventure into my soul.”

For her, running is the touchstone upon which she measures all things and ensures that she sets a precedence for it on a consistent basis. In both of these cases, a thing of importance is set aside by both people. For Richard Rohr it is Eucharist, and for Kristin Armstrong it is running.

Is one right and one wrong? I do not believe so because I can view where each of them is coming from. By receiving Eucharist this morning I am reminded that I am part of the body of Christ and am joined together with Christians around the world in this simple act.

However, I was also renewed and strengthened in my body and soul through my run yesterday morning as I was able care for myself and reflect on everything around me.

For each of us there is a touchstone that connects us to each other and the world around us. No matter what it is, God connects to us all in different ways as we continue on in our run. What is your touchstone?

Find a link to Alex Steward’s blog Running with God at Lutheran Blogs.

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Birdsongs of praise
Affirmation of Baptism in word and sacrament
The cultural commute to church