Before 2020 the yearly average number of investigated incidents with unruly passengers on airlines was 143.
In 2021, just since January 1st, there have been 3,715 reports of unruly passengers investigated.
As a friend of ours says, “All the fuzz has worn off.”
We’re raw, easily bumped and bruised and offended.
Because we have all been dealing with so much, we are less likely to feel we have the capacity to extend grace, to expect the best, to submit to others for the greater good.
I think our angry, anxious, defensive posture may be rooted in an underlying feeling of not being safe – so much is out of our control.
I’m with you. This has been an incredibly stressful week. I find myself going back over and over to a practice that helps me. Maybe it will help you too.
First, close your eyes and breathe deeply.
Imagine that you are standing next to a wide, rushing mountain stream, filled with boulders.
You hop from rock to rock until you get to the middle of the stream where there is a huge boulder that has a shallow smooth dip in it, almost like a seat has been carved out for you.
You sit on the boulder watching the water rushing by on all sides.
The rapids represent all the circumstances that threaten to overwhelm you, carry you away, pull you under. But you are safe and secure on the rock.
As you rest there, secure, when worries come to mind, you release them into the water and let it carry them away for now.
You remind yourself of this.
Find rest my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.
Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.
Psalm 62:5-8
There is something settling, reassuring to me about the boulder I choose to sit on over and over through my day. Are there practices that are helpful to you in this stressful season?
There’s a reason I haven’t been posting lately. It’s because I feel like there are just too many words coming at us. Too much news, too many emails, too much technology. We are feeling dehumanized and desperately long for the things that remind us we are made in God’s image.
We miss hugs, talking in person, laughing around a table…And if you’re like me, almost anything on a screen makes you feel weary.
I’m popping on today to suggest some practices that might help. But before we look at things to fill us up, what about putting boundaries on the things that drain us and make us feel dehumanized?
A few boundaries I’ve found helpful:
Turn off ringer and leave phone in one place in the house when you are home so it’s not nearby.
Tape one reliable news show instead of having news on in the background or turning it on indiscriminately.
Set your phone for boundaries. Go to Settings, then “Screen time” and set “Down time” (times when your apps won’t be available to you) and “App limits” (you can choose to set a time limit on certain apps you may be tempted to use too much and your phone will notify when you’re at your limit)
After limiting what drains you, commit to some practices that fill you. Here are some of my suggestions. Maybe just pick one to focus on today, or add yours in the comments!
1.Breathe
I used to think it was dumb when leaders had us pause to pay attention to our breath as a pre-cursor for prayer. I was wrong. Maybe it is the prevalence of technology and a 24/7 news cycle that has brought home the value of this practice that truly helps me be more present to God.
“God is the oxygen of your soul. Connecting body breath to God is a spiritual practice.”
Adele Calhoun
Go outside and sit on your front step (or on a park bench) and breathe in deeply. Think of the breath of God (the Holy Spirit – Ruach ) filling every inch of your body. Breathe out the care and anxiety you’re carrying.
Then use your senses. What are 5 things you see? What are 5 things you feel? Hear? Smell? Just sit, and breathe. What’s the invitation of God in this moment? Be present and human.
2.Create
Make something with your hands. Anything. Especially if your day is spent mostly using your mind. For me that looks like sewing masks, or baking, or creating environments for gathering people. Maybe for you it might be creative lettering, or photography or making a care package for someone.
3.Read
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8
When we read Scripture, it reminds us that we are not alone. We are not the first to experience this mess. God is not surprised or overwhelmed, or insufficient for what we are facing. There are wonderful parallels to this season in Exodus chapters 12-18 if you want a place to start.
When we read books about people and places different from us, it helps us look beyond ourselves and our own circumstances. It’s not escapist entertainment, but I think the book, American Dirt, is one of the best books I read this summer. It took me into the world of the immigrant experience as a mother and son flee Mexico for the U.S.
What good books are you reading?
4.Smile
During this incredibly stressful season, we need to laugh. We need beautiful pictures and stories that lift our spirits, inspire us, or make us smile. Most of you know I deleted Twitter and am rarely on FB, but I love Instagram because it brings joy. I follow tons of dog and travel feeds. I’ll spare you those, but here are a just a few of my favorite feeds.
If you want adventure, follow @jimmychin .If you want to experience life on a delightful sheep farm, follow @sweckerfarm (especially her daily stories!)For encouragement (even if you have his book) follow @charliemackesie !If you wish you lived in the British countryside, follow @suddenjourneys (Especially her daily stories!!).If you’d like to live in Paris, follow @alexandrine_ar !For awe and wonder at God’s creation, follow @usinterior !
5. Thank
Study after study has shown that the practice of gratitude has benefits both physically and emotionally. You may want to keep a gratitude journal, or practice sharing 3 things you’re thankful for at dinner each night.
What are you thankful for right now?
6. Get Out (while wearing a mask at a social distance).
I want to be careful and wise with this one because we all have unique circumstances, and some will be limited more than others. But, within reason, how can you stay connected in person with others?
When the pandemic started, we decided to invest in making our outdoor space more welcoming and conducive to gathering people with distance. We bought a few more chairs and years ago we got a white tent at Costco (which is actually advertised as a carport).
Our daughter, Katy says she’s discovered paddle-boarding to be an ideal socially distanced activity to do with friends. For me, tennis is my go-to.
Maybe “getting out” is inviting friends to outdoor spaces with you, but I also read a great article recently on the importance of “casual connections” – how they provide needed emotional support and contribute to our sense of well-being. God did not create us for isolation, right?
The article talks about “consequential strangers” (like baristas, beauticians, checkout people at the grocery store) who give us the feeling that we belong to a community – a basic human need.
Consequential strangers “are as vital to our well-being, growth, and day-to-day existence as family and close friends. Consequential strangers anchor us in the world and give us a sense of being plugged in to something larger…They are vital social connections – people who help you get through the day and make life more interesting.” *
What is one of these practices you might try today? What would you add?
*Melinda Blau and Karen L. Fingerman “The Power of People Who Don’t Seem to Matter…But Really Do.”
As a kid, Catholics were the bunch who got to leave school early on Wednesdays to go to “CCD”, and did a criss-cross applesauce motion with their hands when they prayed, and had to eat fish on Fridays. The whys and whereof’s were a total mystery to the rest of us – the uninitiated.
As young adult it seemed like the thing to do to go with the flow so I half-heartedly tried giving up something for lent, choosing something like desserts that would serve me and my waistline as well as Jesus. It was all about trying to be as disciplined as Jesus, appear holy, and lose some weight.
This author said it well:
“Our practice of Lent has been too easily turned into a competition, a scaling of the spiritual ladder, proudly (even if silently) chuckling at those who too easily give up on the gym or the wagon.”
EMMY R. KEGLER
Also, as a 7 on the Enneagram, I have a built in excuse for being bad at “Lenting”. I’m all about joy and run from grief and sacrifice like Wile E. Coyote being chased by Road Runner.
But this is exactly why it’s important for me to pay attention to the experiences, reflection, and practices of Lent.
One way spiritual formation happens is when we pay attention with Jesus, to what makes us uncomfortable, and respond.
I truly believe what’s meaningful for one person in preparing for Easter, may not be fruitful for another. This is why, when I saw Sarah Bessey’s 40 Simple Practices for Lent, I thought, brilliant! But…
Though I love this idea and many of Sarah’s suggestions, not all of them resonate with me, so I took the ones that were meaningful and substituted my own where I wanted.
I have found it really drawing me to Jesus so far, but only as I don’t view it as a checklist, but instead, suggestions for focused reflection.
And you know what?? You could do this too!
I linked to Sarah’s list, and I’ll put mine below (remember, I’m using a bunch of her ideas – noted with *). But you can make your own list too.
Or just choose one or two things from the list! No legalism here. It’s between you and God.
Also, whatever you decide, I’m not going in order, but choosing each day one that feels right.
Subscribe to a Lenten devotional or app (I’m doing the one from NCC )
Choose to fast from speaking negatively about anyone or complaining for the day. Reflect on this fast.
Pray for your enemies or those who have hurt you by name. Bless them as beloved children of God.*
Practice Sabbath. Worship. Power off. Do something that brings you joy.
Repent. Read Amos 5*
Look for light and beauty around you today. As you notice it, thank Jesus for the darkness, and ugly brutality He endured for you.
Choose the discipline of secret service today. Bless someone anonymously. Don’t tell anyone.
Write a prayer or blessing for your church staff. Drop it off with treats.
Speak words of forgiveness out loud to yourself for that thing you’ve been holding onto for too long.*
Light a candle and reflect on one word from Scripture for five minutes. Examples: mercy, forgiven, beloved.*
At dinner, pray for persecuted Christians around the world.
Plant a flower bulb. Take it to someone who needs hope in their darkness.
Imagine God looking at you with infinite love, and tenderness, kindness and mercy.*
Write out Matthew 11:28-30 and tape it to your mirror.*
Read Psalm 139 from an unfamiliar translation like The Passion.
Text someone who may feel lonely or unseen a word of encouragement.
Do a biblical word study of “wilderness”
Unfollow or mute 5 social media accounts that make you feel angry, afraid, or envious.*
Give away 40 compliments or words of affirmation to strangers and friends.
Write a thank you note to someone who has sacrificed for you.
Read Ted Loder’s “I Praise You for this Resurrection Madness” from Guerrillas of Grace
Do a prayer walk through your neighborhood.
Listen to “See a Victory”. What does it mean to you personally that the battle belongs to the Lord? How does it impact you that you know the end of the story?
Write a Psalm of Lament for injustice you or people you love have experienced.*
Tip someone 40% ( a sacrifice)
Say the breath prayer “Lord I can’t. You can.” as you picture those you’re praying for.
Read Psalm 51 in 3 different versions.*
Attend a Stations of the Cross service, or do a reflection on them (I’m using Remember Me, by Sharon Garlough Brown, but it is a sequel and won’t be as meaningful if you haven’t read Shades of Light first.)
Repeat the Jesus prayer throughout the day: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy on me, a sinner.” Consider using “beloved” in place of “sinner”.*
Take dinner to a busy family with little kids. (These moms in particular are in a season of sacrifice for their family)
Listen to Sara Groves’ song “We Wait”. Reflect on what it was like for the women around Jesus to wait through the Sabbath, doing nothing after He was crucified.
Donate 40 canned goods to a food shelf.*
Invite some friends over for dinner. Ask them to share a time when someone sacrificed for them.
Go sit in an empty sanctuary and pray for all that will go on in that space.
Choose a name for Jesus – Lamb of God, Prince of Peace, Bread of Life, Bridegroom… and look up Scripture to help you flesh out your understanding.
Use the practice of Lectio Divina (repeated reflective reading) with this verse: John 16:33.
What are you doing for Lent? Anything? Share what’s meaningful in the comments!
I’m over on Instagram if you want to come hang out! I’ll try to post some pictures of what this has looked like for me with the hashtag #whatlentlookslike.
As I read back over this post before hitting “publish”, it seemed decidedly “ordinary” and “unspiritual”. But I was reminded of a good insight I heard, reflecting on the life of David who watched sheep, and ran errands for his brothers before killing Goliath and ruling as king. Opportunity is often disguised in the ordinary. May we be faithful in all the little things, and look for the invitations of God every day!
I’ve been astounded to hear that some kids in the south of the U.S. are already heading back to school this week!
That is just. so. wrong. Let me say that if you lived in Minnesota (as you should), it would be illegal to go inside for more than 15 minutes until after Labor Day.
Not to rub it in, but most this is a picture of most Minnesotans this week.
I feel like it’s taken me awhile to get into the swing of summer entertaining, but this past week I’ve upped my game, reaching out to some neighbors we want to get to know better, and friends we haven’t seen in awhile. I’ve worked for years trying to figure out the easiest go-to meals for when we gather people around our table so I can be truly present.
One of my easiest summer menus for guests is this:
Flank Steak on the grill marinaded in Lowery’s Teryaki marinade
Corn spoon Bread
Suzie’s salad with peppers
Penny’s Ice cream dessert
The crab dip can be made ahead and heated in microwave. Ice cream dessert is made day before. Most of Corn spoon bread can be mixed ahead (just add Jiffy at last minute and pop in the oven)
Corn Spoon Bread
1 stick butter melted
2 eggs hand beaten in
1 small can whole kernel corn
1 small can creamed corn
1 box Jiffy corn muffin mix (must be Jiffy to work)
1 cup sour cream
Mix together in casserole and bake at 350 for about 45 min – hour. This recipe serves 6, but you can easily double it and put in 9×13 pan.
Here isSuzie’s Salad recipe:
Lettuce
Red and yellow peppers chopped
Green onions chopped
Craisins
Sugar snap pea cut in 1/2″ pieces
Cook 1 cup of almonds and 1/3 cup sugar in frying pan over medium heat til sugar melts and covers almonds. Cool on wax paper and break apart.
Dressing: 1/4 cup tarragon vinegar, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup oil
And Penny’s Oreo Ice Cream Dessert
Crust: 1 Pkg (35) oreos crushed (I put in Cuisenart) mixed with 4 TB melted butter. * Reserve 1 cup of crumbs for topping
Filling: 1/2 gallon ice cream – whatever you want! I did a layer – 2 pints – of coffee ice cream and a layer of 2 pints of chocolate chip ice cream. Spread softened ice cream over crust. Freeze.
Topping: Melt 3/4 cup butter and 3 squares unsweetened chocolate in a pan on the stove. Gradually stir in 4 well-beaten egg yolks, and 2 1/4 cups powdered sugar, and 2 ts. vanilla. Cook thoroughly and cool. Beat til smooth. Beat 4 egg whites til stiff peaks form and fold into cooled mixture.
Spread over ice cream and sprinkle with remaining oreo crumbs. Pop back in the freezer.
In past posts, I’ve written about the spiritual practice of the Examen which I really like. This week I found an app created by Fuller Seminary . They offer guided a Examen for different focuses that uses video. You can close your eyes and just listen to the prompts if you don’t want to watch the video. You might want to check it out, or take 9 minutes and just let the audio below lead you through the practice.
Ok, I’ll admit it…I’m not sure how many people are reading blog posts in August. I feel like I may be throwing words out into a void. So today I’ve edited and am reposting some thoughts from years ago. You can prove me wrong if you actually read this by posting a thought in the comments!
Spiritual practices are usually kind of like workouts at the gym, right?
They’re supposed to stretch the spiritual muscles that need stretching…to practice what you hope will one day come naturally.
Like you run a mile on the treadmill so that if one day you’re being chased by a bear you won’t collapse in a heap after 15 yards.
But that can sound a little…intense, so a couple weeks ago I decided to make a little game for myself.
In our family we LOVE games, especially games with points. (In case you’re worried about my theology, I know discipleship isn’t a game and it is about grace and cooperating with God’s work in our lives. Just give this a chance! :))
I decided to see how many times I could genuinely affirm different people during the day. I chose to give myself extra credit points for specific compliments that weren’t appearance related and for words of affirmation directed at strangers.
Maggie’s response when I told her about my game? “Mom,you’re weird. Kind. But weird.”
I told her I didn’t think she was being very affirming.
I continued this practice over the week and it has been a rich discipline that has helped me notice things with gratitude…notice God’s gifts to me.
Some of the most fun moments of affirmation:
▪ Asking to speak to a customer service rep’s supervisor on the phone because she had been so helpful and I wanted to be sure she was recognized. (She was so shocked I wondered if anyone EVER says anything positive to Customer Service folks)
▪ Texting a young man with a reminder that I see God in him and he is a man of integrity in hard situations.
▪ Writing a note to a man who had been let go from his job, affirming the value he had brought to the organization
▪ Introducing myself and thanking a mentally challenged young man for the great job he was doing cleaning the health club.
Anyway, it’s been so much fun and has stretched my “gratitude muscles”
We’re bombarded with so much information that sometimes we need to just try ONE THING and see how it goes. Maybe give this one a go and see what you think!
OR suggest a different spiritual experiment! I’d love to hear your ideas!
Today is Ash Wednesday, and as evidenced by my “Spring it Up” post on Monday, I’d really prefer to focus on the positive than face my sin and Jesus’ sacrifice.
I’ve shared before and before that I’m pretty much a failure at Lent. Like John says, I’m more of a Christmas than Easter girl. Could we skip over the Lent chapter please? But there’s no rebirth without death, no salvation without facing my sin, so I continue to try to enter in, to talk to God. This is a repost from a few years ago…
As I mentioned the other day, we’re on vacation in Florida and the other morning we decided to attend an Ash Wednesday service at a lovely little Episcopal Chapel near where we’re staying.
I was on high alert from the moment we entered because I’m not Episcopalian and I was sure I was going to mess up and kneel at the wrong time, or not know the secret handshake that would get me communion, or ask forgiveness for my “debts” instead of my “trespasses”.
I took my cues from a girl across the aisle who clearly knew the liturgical ropes, bowing to the Bible when it went by and making the sign of the cross on her forehead, lips, and heart. I was fascinated.
Like I said, I’m not Episcopalian and I’m not Catholic either, but by turns throughout my life I have been disdainful towards, curious about, and, in the past five years, enriched by many of their practices.
When I was growing up all I knew was that the Catholic kids went to St. Petronille for church (named after a guy who must have been on the JV team of saints because I’ve never heard of him since and neither has my husband who did grow up Catholic). They got to get out of school early on Wednesday to go to Catechism and got to eat fish on Friday. We never had fish in my family. So they were special and kind of mysterious to me.
On Wednesday, while I still struggled to own the words of liturgy in a way that was meaningful, I deeply appreciated the silence, the reverence, and the simplicity of a worship gathering full of Scripture. These guys really do repentance big time!
Anyway, all this has got me thinking about Lent and the question many people ask, “What are you giving up for Lent?”
Confession: As far as I can remember I’ve never given up anything for Lent.
It’s just not been a part of my spiritual tradition. And frankly, when I have considered it I’ve always thought “Well I could give up Starbucks if I wanted to, but I don’t have to so I won’t.” I am sonot into sacrifice. I realize this exposes one of the idols I daily pray to relinquish – the idol of comfort. Ugh!
I know it’s easy to abuse this practice…make it a badge of honor, a “work of righteousness”, an end instead of a means. But, I’ve been reading about it and I’m wondering if it might be a good spiritual practice for me, identifying with Jesus in some small way, this voluntary sacrifice stuff. I’m cringing even as I write this. I find myself thinking, “Could I pick something I like, but don’t like too much? Kind of ease into this maybe?”
I want to know… What is experience with giving up something for Lent? Does it help you to see your sin and become more like Jesus?
If you’re reading this on email or on your phone and want to comment, just click on the title and then scroll down!
Couple quotes on Lent…
“Lenten disciplines help us to abstain from the daily distractions that prevent us from seeing and naming reality correctly. As we allow some of the external trappings of our lives to be stripped away, we can return to a truer sense of ourselves and a deeper pursuit of God.” Ruth Haley Barton
“Like going with Jesus into the wilderness for forty days, that we might come face to ugly face with our enemy. Our sacrificing that we might become more like Christ in His sacrifice.” Ann Voskamp
Check out another great article on Lent by Ruth Haley Barton here!
Recently one of my closest friends was in a crisis situation – the worst day of her life – and in the midst of the chaos, as she was trying to make hard decisions, she had the wisdom to say, “I need to put on my own oxygen mask first.”
You’ve heard this one MILLION times on the pre-flight safety spiel, and have probably heard it as a metaphor for our spiritual rhythms.
My friend was at a crucial juncture and knew she needed strengthening for what was ahead when family members and others would be needing a lot from her. She knew she couldn’t give what she hadn’t first received.
The other day I was feeling really down and I couldn’t figure out why. I texted a close friend who asked: “Are you tired?”
My first answer was, “No.”
After some reflection I texted, “Well, yes, but I shouldn’t be.”
And then after a little more reflection… “You know…I haven’t been doing a TON, but I realize it’s all been really draining relational stuff. Hmm…”
I realized I was just a little “out of breath”.
Our ability to give good to others comes from the good we first receive from God.
Here’s the thing… I think some of us are putting on masks that pump noxious gas into our systems. We primarily breathe in rants on social media and we absorb raunch and obscenities over TV and movies.
And some of us are putting on masks filled with sleeping gas. We inhale escapist stuff that isn’t real – isn’t pure oxygen, but rather lulls us into false complacency.
But what are the life-giving masks we need to choose?
The love of God is the oxygen we need to do good work in the world. If you want to bring heaven to earth you will need the oxygen the refreshes and renews. Without breathing deeply of His love we are in danger of sucking in and spewing out bitterness, anger, and criticism, especially in these politically contentious days.
There are a couple of apps that have been helpful to me – Centering Prayer app and Pray as You Go app. Both provide a short portion of Scripture and silence for reflection.
What are the ways you breathe deeply of life-giving relationships, experiences, and practices?
When Katy was about 5 years old she did something I thought deserved a “time out” so I told her to sit on the stairs. A few minutes later, I walked by and heard her mumbling something.
“What are you saying Katy?”
Scowling and with the most disgusted, put-upon tone she could muster she said, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, later on however it produces a harvest of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it!”*
So if “discipline” is unpleasant, “spiritual disciplines” will be something I hate…a necessary burden to make me more like Jesus, right? But then I read Matthew 11:28-30:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
And then there’s Matthew 15:8-9 where Jesus says:
“‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’”
A spiritual practice is not an end in itself – not something we do to get spiritual brownie points, but rather, training we choose, like training for a marathon, that bit by bit, stretches our spiritual muscles, draws us closer to God, and transforms us into people who are more like Him.
In Adele Calhoun’s Spiritual Disciplines Handbook,** she writes, “The simple truth is that wanting to keep company with Jesus has a staying power that ‘shoulds’ and ‘oughts’ seldom have.”
So, three questions I’m asking myself:
Where is my desire and longing? Where am I least like Jesus, but long to be?
How do I want or need to be with God? (For example, I am an extrovert, so the discipline of silence and solitude has been stretching, but so fruitful)
What spiritual practices might the Holy Spirit be inviting me to step into? As I do, they may be hard, but do they foster love and intimacy with the Lord, or resentment? Is this something I am doing with Jesus, or something that is ill-fitting and legalistic?
The post on fasting seems to have hit a nerve! Some of you identified with my struggle, and some of you thanked me for being authentic, but you guys are way too shy about sharing your wisdom, insights and encouragement that could benefit everyone! So many of you respond directly to me instead of posting in the comments. I thought you’d like to see some valuable thoughts that folks sent me or posted on FB:
I trained like you would for a marathon. I started out fasting from sugar . . . the next time I added bread . . . meat . . . vegetables . . . fruits . . . juice . . . until I could just drink water. One day a week. These days I am working on fasting from all electronic devices one day a week!
—
My husband and I have been regularly fasting over many years. It is challenging yes, but the benefits so outweigh the discomfort, that we actually enjoy it, especially the 21 day fast Daniel fast we do at the beginning of the year. The awareness of God, how He strengthens and enables us to go through is amazing. Starting can be difficult but when it becomes a part of your life, it’s much easier. Drawing closer to God in this way is worth it.
—
Fasting? You have come to the right person!
When I became Orthodox I knew right away this was not something I was going to like. We fast on Wednesdays and Fridays — Wednesdays because it was the day Christ was betrayed and Friday because that was the day Christ was crucified. It is all done to remember our Lord . These are not strict fasts– only no meat or dairy but that is bad enough for a little fat person who loves her ice cream, yogurt, cheese and COOKIES. However I’ve discovered that Oreos are legal!
Seriously, I have grown to look forward to the discipline especially of the 40 day fasts of Nativity and Lent. Still only no meat or dairy for those. The process has drawn me closer to my Lord and His sacrifice. Easy? No but so worthwhile and beneficial to my spiritual growth. Forgive me for sounding”preachy” but the whole experience has has been an eye- opener for me and among other things has taught me that I am never too old to learn new helps in my spiritual life.
Disclaimers also come with these fasts– do not make anyone else uncomfortable by fasting ( as if invited out or there is no other food available) Thinking of someone else always comes first.
*Hebrews 12:11 which we had memorized as a family.
** Highly recommend this book! In it there is a chapter on fasting.
Some posts on this blog contain Amazon affiliate links – I receive a tiny commission on any purchases you make from links, but I’m not paid to recommend any particular item. I’d never include a link to anything I didn’t own or feel great about endorsing.
Advent. Just the word rolling off your tongue, and the feels it conjures up, are such a contrast to “holiday hurry”, “cyber Monday”, and kids insisting “I NEED this for school TODAY!”
I pause at a stoplight, in morning traffic and think about that tension between the pace of life today and the measured minutes in Nazareth and Bethlehem long ago.
500 years of silence. The plodding slowness of Mary and Joseph walking 90 miles over dusty roads towards a stable where Glory would be delivered after hours of labor. The time to reflect. The lack of iPhones or speed or 24/7 news cycles.
No it wasn’t quiet. Or easy. But there was a slower rhythm built into life.
A life where conversations happened in person. Experiences were chatted about and evaluated while walking rocky roads or while doing unending chores of water-hauling, bread-baking, seed-planting.
Slowly.
For us slow is counter-cultural. It takes a commitment to go against the flow. But what might we notice of God and ourselves if we entered into a different rhythm? Continue reading
So when I was in college, “The Rule” (or at least the way I remember the Rule) was you had at least one half hour at 6 a.m. in a Solitary Place for your Official Quiet Time – 10 minutes of prayer time and 20 minutes of Bible reading. Extra credit for journaling and lighting a candle. The truly Spiritual would be silent and HEAR A WORD FROM THE LORD. It felt legalistic and a little oppressive rather than life-giving, but what the heck, I’m a first born rule-follower so I gave it my best shot.
Then I grew up and realized (maybe in one of my Official Morning Quiet Times) that Jesus never Tweeted about #quiettime. He never added an 11th commandment about rules, regulations and minute breakdown for what was the minimal requirement for time with Him.
Instead He said, “Come to me…”, “Abide in Me”, “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace…” Continue reading
