I’m taking a little August sabbatical. I pray you’ll be blessed by a repost from last year on a Spirit Stretch Friday…
A few weeks ago I wrote about the Communion Debacle our daughters experienced at church. It made me think about how hard it can be to truly enter into this sacrament and be present to God in the moment…reflecting on His grace and our sin.
Frankly, it’s darn easy to be present to…me. My comfort, my will, my convenience, my agenda…But Jesus? Not so much. Are you with me?
So this week is Media week for our little Summer of 7 band of intrepid women. We’re trying an experimental mutiny against excess in order to get a better perspective on kingdom living. You can read about our adventures here, and here.
As we planned our media strategy Monday night, Theresa bemoaned missing out on the details of the “TomKat” break-up, and Cathy has been temporarily disowned by her family in favor of t.v. Heather anticipated withdrawal symptoms as a Pinterholic.
Our biggest fear though, was that we’d feel cut off from community. We envisioned showing up at each other’s houses, peering through the window like orphans in a Dicken’s novel, pathetically saying “Please talk to me!!!”
Personally I decided to go without my phone for the week, which I think must earn me brownie points somewhere in the universe because this is sacrificial, darn it!
Hunting caterpillars with my daughters – Heather H. Last ride on the Ferris Wheel – Mary Jo S. A goodnight text – Katie M. Swan Lake performed by a 7 year old in a tutu. Nanisa S. Stomping through puddles – Dana F.
I always love reading the answers to “What do you stay awake for?” at Caribou. They move me and remind me of how important it is to stop. And pay attention. And be present to the wonder that’s right in front of me.
Like a snuggle with my girls when they were toddlers and nothing else could possibly be more important…not the news of Clinton’s affair, or the war in the Gulf, or the latest development between Ross and Rachel on Friends.
The distractions are different now, but they’re still there…the things that threaten to keep me from missing my real life. And missing the wonder of God’s good gifts.
Now my babies are grown and I come back to the town where we grew up together. Where we delighted in walks around the wetlands and seeing the baby goslings each spring, and watching them turn into awkward ugly teenager geese.
Where we measured and marked the girls’ height each year on a wall in the basement and we marveled at all the other things that couldn’t be measured, like hope and character, and faith.
A friend of mine says, “I want to be counted among those easily impressed.” I agree. I want to be awake to wonder and live a life marked with gratitude.
So, today, I guess I’m thinking about turning off, well, everything…and paying attention to the sun on my face, and giving gentle and strong hugs and really seeing and being thankful for the dewy green shoots pushing through the winter earth, and making sure those I love know it.
Consider getting on your knees tonight and reviewing your day with thanksgiving. And then maybe send someone a good-night text. 🙂
What wonders are you noticing? What are you grateful for today?
We want to be like Jesus, and Jesus didn’t journal so that’s one less thing we need to feel guilty about.
But as someone who likes to journal, I want to say “Hey! Wait a minute! How do we KNOW He didn’t journal? After all, the Bible never says “Jesus sang.” Or danced. But maybe He did!
Maybe He was a CLOSET JOURNALLER !! Maybe He LOVED journaling!
Honestly, does it really matter if He did or He didn’t? I think what matters is the value beneath it.
Journaling is just a tool like other things that help us lead an examined life…help us pay attention the work of God in our lives…Help us ask “Lord what do you want to show me about Yourself and myself?”
Journaling may not be necessary for an examined life, but what is? Space? Attention?
Maybe Jesus never journalled, but I look at the time He had walking or boating with the disciples from one town to another…
the time for reflection,
conversations,
questions,
the time carved out to be alone and pray…
That makes me think that even IF He didn’t journal, making time to process life with His Father and others was still a priority.
Maybe some days I need to put away my journal in order to be less self- absorbed, and maybe some days I need to force myself to pick up a pen and examine some of the not-so-lovely truths God wants me to see.
Do you like to journal or hate it? Or are there other practices you use to pay attention to the work of God in your life?
Psalm 26:2,3. Test me Lord and try me, examine my heart and my mind. For I have been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.
Do you ever feel like you’ve accidentally put on Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak?
A few months ago a couple of people made an appointment with me. I didn’t know what their agenda was. When we met all they did was ask me questions about a painful experience.
And then they listened.
And asked more questions. And listened some more.
They asked, “and then what happened?” and “how did you feel?” and “oh no!” and “what can we do?” like it really made a difference to them.
And here’s the thing. Yes, what was asked and answered was important, but the most transformative thing for our relationship was that when I walked away I didn’t feel invisible anymore. It felt like I mattered. What I thought, what I felt, the pain I had experienced made a difference to them. Have you had an experience like this?
A few years ago my husband and I had the opportunity to spend some time with former President Clinton in a couple different contexts (no he would not remember my name!). Regardless of what you think about his politics or his morals, here’s a man who makes people feel like they matter.
We were wrapping up an interview with him when he saw an African American guy with a saxophone that was about 189 years old in a back hallway. Clinton got so excited asking this guy about the brand of sax he played, and the type he used to play, and the music he liked. He laughed and they swapped sax stories and he asked questions and really listened.
Clinton was so present it was hard for his handlers to tear him away. One of the most powerful men in the world. And he was saying to this man, “I may be the president of the United States, but you matter too.”
This is Joe.
He’s a guy with Down’s Syndrome who has a great smile and a can-do spirit. He’s the guy who sweeps the stairs at exactly the same time every morning at my health club. When I first asked his name he looked scared, like he had done something wrong.
When I thank him each day for his great work he always looks a little surprised. Today I took another step and asked him, “Joe, how long have you worked here? Do you like your job?”
I’ve noticed Joe. I’ve tried to let him know he matters. But how many others do I miss during the day who are longing to be noticed? Feeling like they’re accidentally wearing and invisibility cloak?
What if Jesus hadn’t looked up to see Zaccheus? What if He hadn’t taken time to talk to the woman who touched the hem of His robe?
When is a time when someone made you feel like you mattered? Who are the people you tend to overlook? Who would feel affirmed if you asked a question and listened?
A few weeks ago I wrote about the Communion Debacle our daughters experienced at church. It made me think about how hard it can be to truly enter into this sacrament and be present to God in the moment…reflecting on His grace and our sin. Sometimes we can feel so conspicuous and self-conscious, but not Jesus-conscious. It made me think about a spiritual practice tied to confession and forgiveness that I find really meaningful, but have let slide recently. It’s an ancient practice called the Examen you may be familiar with.
It simply means you look back over your day and identify where you sensed being most alive to God’s presence and pleasure most (the “spiritual” word is “consolation”) and where He felt most absent (“desolation”)…Where you experienced death or separation from God.
Life or Death,
Beauty or Ugliness.
It’s helpful for me to practice it with a regular activity like brushing my teeth, but if you’re more spiritual you might actually light a candle, get down on your knees and do it big time.
Last week I did it while I was riding my bike to Starbucks, asking God to help me look back over my yesterday. The times that came to mind when I felt most alive and experiencing a sense of God’s pleasure were in the midst of a couple of hard conversations I had. There was a sense of obedience, God’s grace, keeping short accounts… I thanked God for His equipping in those moments and the encouragement I felt at the end of these. The time when I felt “desolation” was when I neglected to follow through and serve in a way that I could have. I just pushed it out of my mind in favor of comfort. As I thought of that I asked forgiveness and committed to follow through at the next opportunity.
Kind of like when you’ve painted a room and the next day go back to see if there are streaks or drips you need to take care of.
Have you tried this? Want to try this?
I’m not a hipster. Not even close. I’m always consulting with my daughters to make sure what I’m wearing doesn’t look like I’m the stereotypical un-cool homeschooled kid on the first day of public school.
So even though I know Mumford and Sons and love their song,“Awake my Soul”, I honestly didn’t think of it in choosing the domain for this blog until some of my hipster friends pointed it out. It was what they thought of immediately.
I was thinking of Awake my Soul in an eyes-wide-open-aha-oh-I-almost missed-that-burning-bush way. But whatever. I totally missed the cultural reference right off the bat.
Last summer was a more embarassing miss. One morning I was teaching at church. It was very early. (I want you to remember that). I had to stand up in front of a room full of people. When we were done and people were leaving, I walked outside and glanced down. There were two different sandals on my feet. I know you’re thinking, “What sane person doesn’t pay attention to the shoes they’re putting on? Or look in a mirror!?” It was dark, ok? And to my credit (if there’s any credit to be gotten here), they were both brown sandals.
And then there was the day a couple of years ago I left the car running and locked my keys inside. For an hour. While I was at Starbucks. Again, paying attention? Maybe not so much.
Last confession. When I was a junior in college (I KNOW you’re not gonna believe this but it’s absolutely true), I once put a cup of salt instead of a teaspoon into a recipe of lasagna. Flake? Mentally challenged cook? A.D.D.? You make the call, but clearly I wasn’t paying attention.
Why in the world would I share these humiliating experiences with you?
The refrain of the Mumford and Sons song says Awake my soul For you were made to meet your Maker And you were made to meet your Maker.
I think one of the ways we pay attention and meet our Maker is by encouraging each other – sharing our own experiences of seeing AND missing God. What about you?
Have you ever made an embarrassing mistake because you weren’t paying attention?
What helps you pay attention to God’s work in your life?
What discourages you from paying attention?
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