Eliminate the Hurry
(6 Minute Read)
By Naomi Lorenzin
In John Ortberg’s book “Soul Keeping” he shares about a meeting with his mentor, Dallas Willard. Ortberg asks the question “What do I need to do to be spiritually healthy?” After a long pause, Willard responds with “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.” Scribbling that down in his notebook Ortberg says “That’s a good one, what else?!”
“You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.” Is that a tall order for anybody else out there? When I was pastoring full-time and raising my young kids, hurry was just what I knew to do, it was a part of me. I would hurry from school drop off, to work, to meetings, to pick up, to supper, to football/gymnastics, to bedtime, to clean up (sometimes) to bedtime again! Sprinkle in some homework once in a while and quality time with my husband. Then finish off the day with a running list in my mind as I lay awake wondering ‘why in the world am I still awake?’
Take time to slow down
So how can we eliminate hurry and make time for spiritual health while still keeping up with all of life’s other demands?
Foster has a great suggestion to start with, the inward discipline of meditation. Mediation can cause some angst so here’s his definition:
“Christian meditation, very simply, is the ability to hear God’s voice and obey his word. …The truth of the matter is that the great God of the universe, the Creator of all things desires our fellowship.” (Pg 16)
“Eastern meditation is an attempt to empty the mind; Christian meditation is an attempt to fill the mind. …The detachment from the confusion all around us is in order to have a richer attachment to God. Christian meditation leads us to the inner wholeness necessary to give ourselves to God freely.” (Pg 20-21)
Creator God wants to be in relationship and communion with us! Meditation is just one way we can actively participate in that relationship. There are several ways in which we can meditate – depending on our own personality and preferences – there is no right way to meditate!
“[The Hebrew word for meditate is haw-gaw and has] various meanings: listening to God’s word, reflecting on God’s works, rehearsing God’s deeds, ruminating on God’s law, and more.” (Pg 15)
I’d like to remind you that all of these spiritual disciplines will be unique to you in how they play out. How and when I meditate will be different from how and when you meditate. You can meditate while sitting, or while walking. Or maybe you don’t enjoy this discipline, that’s ok too! You are absolutely allowed to practice whichever one(s) you love. The point of the disciplines is to become closer to God, to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to us, not to check the box.
Some ways to meditate are; choosing a verse to focus on, repeat and memorize. We can sing Scripture. Reflect on things that God has done in your life – praise celebration, and gratitude are meditation. Looking at the vast sky above while you walk seeing how it’s draped all around you, strong and beautiful. Even thinking on one word that touches your heart; maybe an attribute of God, or a name of God.
Jehovah Jireh, The Lord will provide
Jehovah-Raah, The Lord my shepherd
Jehovah-Rapha, The Lord that heals
Jehovah-Nissi, The Lord is my banner
Jehovah-Shalom, The Lord is Peace
El Roi, The God who sees me
Ask yourself, where is God in this moment? What are His thoughts toward me? What does it mean to be seen by God?
Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.
Your commands are always with me
and make me wiser than my enemies.
I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes.
I have more understanding than the elders,
for I obey your precepts.
I have kept my feet from every evil path
so that I might obey your word.
I have not departed from your laws,
for you yourself have taught me.
How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path
Psalm 119:97-104
Close to God’s heart
Of the Psalmist, and many other witnesses and heroes in the bible, Foster says “These were people who were close to the heart of God. God spoke to them not because they had special abilities, but because they were willing to listen.” (pg. 16). In class this week my professor reminded us that the “disciplines we practice aren’t the end goal, they are simply a means to an end” which is coming close to the heart of God. To hear what the Holy Spirit wants to speak to us for this day. Let’s make time to listen, to uncover the depths of God, there is so much more to be discovered.
So, how can we get our kids to be people who are willing to listen to God? Well first, we have to give them ample opportunities and teach them how to make themselves available. Remembering we can’t take them where we haven’t been.
So here are a few suggestions from Foster’s book that I think would work well as a starting place for you and to lead your kids in. As long as we remember that “regardless of how it’s done, the aim is to center the attention of the body, the emotions, the mind, and the spirit upon the glory of God.” (Pg 28)
Put up a few names of God on the screen and have the kids think about them. Which one gives them the biggest feelings right now. Who does God want to be to them? Ask them to share if they want to!
Before you begin ask God to lead you in this exercise, to know the questions to ask, and the words to speak. Encourage the kids to bring their attention to God. Take some deep breaths to encourage them to quiet their minds with a little exercise of flexing and then relaxing their whole bodies a few times.
Allow them to use their imagination – it is a GREAT gift! They can imagine God sitting there right beside them having a conversation with them. Often when God speaks to us it sounds like our own thoughts. Ask God, what are you saying to me? What do I need to hear? Ask them what God looks like, what does He smell like? What does it feel like to see Him smiling with you/crying with you?
Palms down, palms up (pg30) is another technique I really love. It involves our minds/imagination and body with an action we have to do. Kids can sit in a chair or on the floor criss-crossed, however is comfortable. Have them place their hands palms down on the arms of the chair, or on their knees. Encourage them to become still and silent as we focus our attention on Jesus.
Using whatever language that works for you, say something about the struggles they may be dealing with. Anger, anxiety, fear, depression, loneliness, pressure at school, family trouble, missing their dad/mom, hearing their parents fight, dentist/dr. appointments, etc. Let them know that Jesus sees them, He hurts when they hurt and He wants to help,
I like using Mt 11:28 ICB. Have them imagine giving those challenges to Jesus, picturing them moving from their mind to their heart, down their arms and out through their hands palms down. Maybe they’ll feel some type of release in their hands, maybe you’ll see it in their posture, if they do or don’t be sure they know neither is right or wrong.
After a couple moments of surrendering have them turn their palms up to represent a posture of receiving. Encourage them to feel God filling their hands with all they need – love for anger, peace, for anxiety and worry, joy for sadness, etc. While receiving have them sit in silence and just listen to God. Give them time to hear any next steps or just rest in His love. Give opportunity for them to share what they saw/felt if they want to. Remind them that if they felt or heard nothing that’s ok too, sometimes its simply quiet.
Foster writes “You must not be discouraged if in the beginning our meditations have little meaning to you. There is a progression in the spiritual life, and it is wise to have some experience with lesser peaks before trying to tackle the Mt. Everest of the soul. So be patient with yourself [and your kids!]”
“The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.” (Pg 1)