Pause and Let Your Soul Catch Up

Last year our student ministry leadership team here on campus said Sabbath is a spiritual discipline they find the hardest to practice. In response I spent last summer reading and researching to find some ways to help us practice the spiritual discipline of Sabbath. 

“Pause and Let Your Soul Catch Up” was born from this time of reflection.  Over and over again I notice how things get out of hand when we become so busy, so overwhelmed that we stop pausing long enough to let our souls catch up. In my own personal life I find that I get grouchy when I do not take a time of Sabbath. When I do not pause and let my soul catch up I do some really “stupid” things (sorry grandchildren I know stupid is not a good word to use but nevertheless they are stupid things that some times hurt others).

Today I suggest we all pause and let our souls catch up so we stop doing the “stupid” things that so often hurt others. Stop and reflect on your actions. If you took time to really pause and let your soul speak what would it say?

p.s. I highly recommend reading “An Unhurried Life Following Jesus’ Rhythms of Work and Rest” by Alan Fadling. When Jesus was here on earth he did not run himself ragged but gave us an example of a rhythm of work and rest. Jesus often paused and prayed and let his soul catch up. Jesus is the example of the type of person I want to be. How about you? What example are you following?

You Can Do This Hard Thing

You can do this hard thing
You can do this hard thing
It's not easy I know
But I believe that it's so
You can do this hard thing

These lyrics  written by Carrie Newcomer kept repeating in my head this past week as I prepared to journey with my mother through this hard time. We all watched as her priced possessions accumulated over seventy years were sold at an auction. We also watched as the house that she had raised her three children, mourned the loss of her husband, our dad, been a part of three marriages of her children along with two divorces of her children, the birth of seven grandchildren, and thirteen great grandchildren was sold at the auction. This was a hard thing to do for all of us.

Mom has not lived in the house for over a year and a half because of her failing health. It was not practical to keep paying for all the upkeep to keep this house for storage of things when mom could use the money to pay for other important needs. But even though it was the practical thing to do it was not the easy thing to do.

The cleaning out process began about a year ago as I would take mom up to visit the house and we would look through her things trying to decide what to do with them. We were often distracted by the memories and stories as we discovered an old picture or item that reminded us of the past.  What a gift that God gave us to have this time and the strength he gave us to do this hard thing.

As much as I wanted to escape the pain, I knew that we would have to do this hard thing. God carried us through the pain. The next time you face trials of any kind know “You can do this hard thing” and do not try to escape the pain but let the pain transform you. God will be right there beside you, or if necessary, He will carry you.

What I wish I Could Have Told my 21 year old self

It has been such a long time since I was 21 but as someone getting ready to turn 61 here are some things I wish I could have told my 21 year-old self.

·      God only made one of you and He loves you just as you are.  You are God’s beloved. So work hard to be your authentic self, not someone the world tells you to be.

·      Only God can fill that hole in your soul.  No one on this earth can love you in the way that God loves you so don’t spend time trying to find someone on earth to fill that job.

·      And because you want to be able to be your authentic self you have to allow others to be their authentic self. We can’t control or change anyone so if you think you can change someone to fit the way you think they should be, think again.

·      Today is all you are really promised. Use is wisely to do good just where you are.  Offer a smile and a helping hand to those you meet today whether a friend, a stranger or an enemy.

·      Live simply and be grateful for what you do have.

·      Life is hard. There will always be suffering and struggles but you can choose to live in joy despite those struggles. You can grow from the suffering.

·      “Jesus says, ‘Today we will try again.’” Remember that each day you can start anew.  Tomorrow is gone so today choose to live in the moment and try again to live the way Jesus asks us to live.

·      Celebrate and remember to play. I think I have often forgotten the importance of celebrating and playing.  I have taken things too seriously.

·      Listen to others’ stories and learn from them.  Tell your story often to help others on their journey.

·      Pause often and let your soul catch up.

·      Love. Love God, love yourself, love others.  Love heals all things.

Behold, Children are a Heritage from the Lord

Sitting at a baseball tournament watching seven-year-old children play baseball is an eye-opening experience for me. It is not like I had not had that experience before because both my son and daughter played on travel baseball and softball teams. The difference is this time I am experiencing it as a grandmother.  My only agenda is to watch and support my grandson.

The experience begins much too early on Saturday morning. We have to be on the baseball field, a half an hour away, by 7:00 a.m. to warm up for a game to begin at 8:00 a.m. If we are one minute late, there are consequences for my little grandson. Parents and children awake and the day begins at a frazzled pace. Do we have all the equipment? Is he wearing the right uniform? Do we have drinks and snacks? Are we prepared for the weather and being out most of the day? Mom and dad are cross with each other. Everyone seems to be cross and so the day begins in a cloud of unhappiness.

The trip to the baseball field is filled with chatter about how the team is couched and how it is too much pressure. I hear stories of how parents act and treat their sons. And then we arrive at the field and I get to see first hand all the stories play out. I know all these things happened when I was the parent because as I sit back I remember. The difference now is that I am older and wiser and I am on the other side of this story.

My heart aches as I hear the parents yelling at their small sons all the things they are doing wrong.  “Stop whining….stop being lazy….get your head in the game…..your attitude stinks…..”  I hear the parents complaining about the calls made and how the other team’s parents are acting. Every once in awhile I’m caught up in the moment and find myself wanting to complain about a call. It is easy to fall into the negative energy surrounding me. I attempt to fight my way back and remember that if I say I am a Christian and following Jesus then I am called to live differently.

If you are caught up into thinking that your child has to be engaged 24/7 or they won’t make it in life, pause for a moment and let your soul catch up. So what example are you setting for your children? Are you showing them how to be frazzled and overwhelmed? Are you teaching them to be critical of others? What does your example show them is truly important in life?

Put your phones down and clear your calendars because children grow up way too fast. I know that now because I’m on the other side of the story.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

Psalm 127:3

Sitting in The Holy Space

Several months ago I read about a Mandorla. I drew a picture of one and wrote some notes in my journal. I neglected to write down the source so I apologize that I cannot tell you where I first read about the Mandorla.

My notes say a Mandorla inspires action. It is the union of opposites. It offers a place to sit with the tension. It is balm for wounds. Since the drawing in my journal was a little rough, I decided to use my computer to make a more pleasing picture of the mandorla from my journal. 

Instead of rushing to judgment, what would it be like to sit with the tension? It seems we all think our way is the right way and we refuse to listen to any other side. Today pause and sit in the holy space, the place where opposites are united. Listen and remember:

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this:

Everyone should be quick to listen,

slow to speak and

slow to become angry.

James 1:19 (NIV)

Where Is Your Treasure?

I am overwhelmed with the task of helping my mother clean out 60+ years of stuff. The stuff I call junk, my mom calls treasure.

How can we look at the same stuff and have such a different opinion? My mom grew up in the depression. I grew up in a time of plenty.

"Cindy where is your treasure?" I feel God calling out to me. "Are you too busy being frustrated and overwhelmed by the whole process that you are missing out on the real treasure? You have been given the gift of time to spend with your mom.  Pause and see the treasure."

Plan a Sabbatical, Not a Vacation

I love the word Sabbatical. It's better than the word vacation. 
Sabbatical implies reflection, intention, and a break from everything. 
It makes you feel like you have permission to unplug, unwind, and remove 
yourself from the daily grind. I used to say that I didn’t go on vacation, 
I just parented in a different location. Now I wish I had said, my family is taking a sabbatical---a sacred time for us to be together with no interruptions.

--Rev. Becca Stephens

Peace, joy, happiness and a feeling of being well-loved and loving well were my hopes for our first family vacation as a blended family.  I had been watching the stress of everyday life take a toll on our family and I wanted to provide a place where we could let go of the stress and play. 

In this day and age of a need to constantly be entertained and run at full speed I thought it would make it hard for a week of just being on the beach. God gave us important wisdom in telling us to be still.

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

We all settled into a rhythm of play and rest. We were loving and respectful to each other. We were able to let down our hair so to speak and just be. What a wonderful gift this week was for all of us. During the week, God was showing me how he is answering my prayers for my family. I might have missed this if I had not taken the time to listen.

God asks us to spend time getting to know him and getting to know ourselves. This is impossible if we do not take time out to listen and to just be.

We’re becoming a nation of quickaholics—people compulsively

seeking out quick and easy

ways to live & solve problems,

avoiding what is deep, difficult, and therefore growth producing.

--When the Heart Waits, Sue Monk Kidd (3)

The past few years have been a difficult time for our family but we are choosing to not seek the quick and easy way to live and solve our problems but are spending time living the deep and difficult journey. This week allowed me time to see the ways we are all growing from the deep and difficult work of getting to know ourselves and God.

Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.” But how in a culture of now?

In a world of “doing” how do you make time for just “being”?

Plan a sabbatical, not a vacation, that will give you time to reflect and take a break from the crazy, busy world. Our family time together was worth every cent, every worry and every moment of planning spent to make it happen. God was showing me that he is in control. Once I let go of trying to control the week he took over and made it perfect!

As God says, For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21.