One of the tools I use daily is an app entitled Lectio365. It is a daily guided prayer using scripture passages from the lectionary. It’s read by some folks in England and the 24/7 prayer movement. For some reason I feel holier and smarter when I listen.
At the beginning of each session is a prayer and reminder. A recent one has stuck with me in a giant way – “as I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly; to re-centre my scattered senses upon the presence of God.” Entering, pausing, stillness, breathing slowly – are all practices that I have deeply needed this week. I had hoped to have my weekly posts shared to you on Monday, but it couldn’t happen this week. I’ve been racing and running since my alarm went off Monday morning. I’ve gone from appointment to crisis to appointment and another crisis in a blurring pace.
And so, hearing those words of invitation – enter, pause, be still, breathe slowly – was pretty alarming. I wanted them. I craved them. I was overwhelmed by them. But I also felt like it wasn’t possible. I felt they were daydreams while living in a nightmare.
It’s really no secret to people who really know me that I have a love and hate relationship with social media. I love the catching up and the pictures and the stories, but I often find myself frustrated with the conspiracies, fears, endless opinions and takes on the important issues of the world (or unimportant issues of the world). This week I feel like I’ve been on overload. I find myself trying to figure out what is truth and what is overkill (on all sides). I find myself on information and opinion overload.
And to all of it, I once again hear the invitation – pause, be still, breathe slowly, re-centre. I am scattered. My senses are all over the place, and truth be told, the presence of God seems pretty far away. It is this reality, the unawareness of the presence of God, that is shaking me today. The words of that prayer are words of great hope, but hope that needs activation.
At the risk of overspiritualizing a scary situation, it seems that when chaos or fear has been a part of the story, God has always invited his people to the action of stillness and seeking. To the ancient hebrews we hear “if my people, called by my name, humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their unrepentant (wicked) ways, I will hear them, I will restore them and I will be, once again, with them.” Don’t miss-hear me, I’m not saying COVID-19 is some divine punishment (ugh). I am saying when stuff like this happens, God’s people have an opportunity to be reminded of their true self in Him.
I don’t know what tomorrow holds, or this afternoon for that matter. What I do know is that my scattered senses need the invitation to pause, be still, breathe, recenter and be put back together in the presence of the One who does know what tomorrow holds. So, wherever you are today, I pray you have some time to be aware. I pray we both remember that Abba calls you his beloved and is inviting you to return to him. I pray that in the midst of the noise, we might hear the whisper of the Spirit in the middle of this wildness.
One final thought – there is a passage in Ephesians 1 that speaks of being “marked in Jesus by the Holy Spirit.” I love that passage and it is one, that today especially, gives me hope. Being marked by him has become especially real to me as my last trip to Israel I chose to do something pretty shocking (at least it was for me). I chose to mark my pilgrimage and my journey with Jesus permanently in ink. For hundreds of years, this has been a practice of pilgrims and I now physucally share a sign that hundreds have shared since 1300 AD. I know some folks will take issue with this choice and can even quote passages that share what a terrible sin this was, but this marking has deeply effected me in my scattered-ness. I’m thankful for it. I see Jesus in it every time I look at it. And while you don’t, nor did I, have to do this to be marked, it has mattered to me and deepened me.
So, be marked child of God. Take a pause, be still, breathe deeply and recenter in the presence of the God who knows you and longs for you and I to be found in Him.
Grace and Peace – Jim
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Love this post, Jim. I’d never heard of the mark of the pilgrim, but weirdly enough I just had this notion out of nowhere a few weeks ago to get a Celtic-cross-type tat — similar to what you got and in the same place — next time I’m in England to see my son. I’ve NEVER been interested in getting one before, so all of this is very interesting and a bit inspiring to me. Great catching up with you at BOM. karen
I find that it is difficult to see what is truth and what is overkill in almost every situation these days – this virus being just the most recent example. Pausing and allowing the truth of Jesus overtake us is the only way to thrive in this culture of chaos. Grace and Peace to you!