Don't Just Do Something, Sit There!

I've just read an article by Barbara Rowley on the Care2 website about multi-tasking. With a touch of humor she's touched a nerve. Is there anyone who doesn't believe they must multi-task to keep up? As Ms. Rowley writes, "There was too much to do for me to devote all my attention to one thing." And for me that includes my prayer life! I find far too often these days my attitude is, "Can we talk about this later, God?" or using travel time as prayer time – not that that's a bad time, but it shouldn't be the only time! According to Edward Hallowell, MD, author of Crazy Busy: Overstretched, Overbooked and About to Snap (Ballantine, 2006) many of us spend a whole lot of time in what he calls the F-state: frenzied, frantic, fearful, forgetful, and frustrated. So what's the solution? Focusing on the task in hand is a start, and sometimes remembering the other 3Rs: rest, relaxation & reflection.

To read Ms. Rowley article in its entirety, click here

Trust & Disappointment

In Henri Nouwen's, A Cry for Mercy, he writes that our petitions (intercessions) are a way of trusting in the fullness of God's goodness. That's thought-provoking. Often my petitions are not answered in the way I expect them to be. I'm sure that's true for everyone at some time or other. So what happens when your expectations aren't met? Are your hopes dashed? Does your faith and trust waiver? Do you question God's goodness? How do you deal with disappointment in God?

JRB

This I believe

Yesterday I listened to a very powerful and moving "This I Believe" from NPR. It was about forgiveness. It made me think about all the real and perceived hurts that I'm holding on to, which really binds up the spirit. It's as though my soul is wrapped in barbed wire and a step in any direction causes intense pain. So I stand very, very still, going nowhere. Now I'm not suggesting that any of us remain in abusive situations or continue our own destructive behavior. But what I believe is that we have to let go of the resentments, the hatred, the vengeful spirit, and the self-loathing that keep us bound. Holding on to them only gives them power.

Do you know the story of the young Indian who was harboring these very things against another? He goes to his grandfather to complain of the injustices being perpetuated upon him. "Grandson," the old man said, "There are two wolves inside me. They struggle with each other. One struggles to divide, devour, ravage, to hurt and even to kill. The other struggles to love, give life, nurture and build." The young boy looked at his grandfather and asked, "Which one will win, Grandfather?" "The one I feed," the grandfather replied.

JRB

So, What Are You Giving Up?

In our Christian tradition, we are in the season of Lent. And who of us has not been asked repeatedly over the last fortnight, "What are you giving up?" Lent is a time of fasting, but surely it's much more than giving up some food item or (bad) habit that we'll go right back to when Lent's over. Vigen Guroian, Armenian Orthodox theologian and educator, said in a recent interview on Speaking of Faith that Lent "is not supposed to be just a time of masochistic self-denial. It's a time in which you put something to rest, when you let go of some of those passions that have disordered your life that led to decisions which were not the best for you or the people around you." I interpret that as meaning that I don't pick them up again when Easter arrives and consequently my life - and those around me -will be changed for good. That makes the choice of what I'm giving up much more serious - and difficult.

Now Let Us Begin

I hate clutter, yet I live with it constantly. I recently read - yet another - article on decluttering. According to the author, those of use who are perfectionists - you know us as A personality types, Js on the Myers Briggs, 1s on the Enneagram and just plain annoying - have the most difficulty. The reason being that we believe that the perfect system has to be devised and in place before we begin. Consequently we rarely do or abandon it when we realize that it's not the perfect system afterall. A bit like my prayer life. Surely Lent is the perfect, er, I mean, a good time to work on this. Afterall, acknowledging the problem is the first step, right? Now where should I put that Prie Dieu? And the icons? And I must have votive candles...and...

Jacqui R. Belcher