Vigilance
Beyond focus, it’s a careful watch for possible danger.
But also, it’s a careful watch for movement of the Spirit.
Sustained concentration, although that is impossible for humans.
Vigilance implies alertness, staying awake, not losing attention amidst the endless stream of thoughts.
Vigilance requires mindfulness.
A significant belief in America, and probably in much of the world, holds that freedom means “I can do what I want, when I want, and to whom I want.” When you ponder this on its own merits, it sounds adolescent.
I once pondered the question of freedom from this dichotomy, “freedom from…” versus “freedom to…”
Then I discovered Paul’s letter to the Galatians which discusses the idea of freedom from the point of view of the Spirit. I wrote my first book on that topic (mired amongst some old files on a backup hard drive somewhere).
Two recent thoughts from the Plough Daily Dig:
What if freedom is the opportunity to do what’s right?
From philosopher King-Ho Leung.
For Sartre, as for Augustine, freedom is not about the kinds of options we have and make in life or even our very ability to choose what options to take. We do not become free because of the sheer number of alternatives we are given or because of the choices we make in life. Rather, freedom pertains to how one pursues meaning in life: it is not about what we are or what choices we make but how we make them and how we live our lives.
From David Foster-Wallace.
There are all different kinds of freedom, and the kind that is most precious you will not hear much talked about in the great outside world of wanting and achieving. The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and discipline, and being able truly to care about other people, and to sacrifice for them over and over in myriad petty, unsexy ways every day. That is real freedom.
Meditate on these important thoughts.
As CEO of Starbucks, Howard Shultz’s vision was to make the cafes a warm and welcoming place for coffee and conversation. I’ve noticed for the past three years or so how the new CEO remodeled the cafes to make the furniture more difficult for sitting, turned the air conditioner to a lower temperature, and cranked up the music volume. All things to make them less inviting encouraging customers to “grab and go.”
Sales have not gone well, and suddenly the board replaced the CEO. New Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol outlined his strategic vision for the coffee giant, which includes making cafes more welcoming.
Corporate strategies change frequently.
Thinking of strategies, my thoughts turned to wondering about the variety of church experiences.
Some churches are welcoming communities.
Some churches are communities just for those already in.
Some are “grab and go” places where people go for entertainment (often called a “rock concert with a TED Talk”).
Increasingly people are turning to online experiences. This was all we had during the pandemic shutdowns. There is no community with those. But for those who cannot get out of the house, it’s a viable option.
I offer not advice but only questions for each person to ponder.
Where do you fit? Can you exist only online? What about service? If you are only an online member, is service just a check? Are you happy with only a “grab and go” experience? (I’d love a survey, which I’m not going to do.)
We think that we will study spiritual writing. We think about that for a month or two. We make a list:
We think that we really should begin with prayer and meditation. We heard that we should have a special chair or perhaps a prayer cushion. Maybe we need an aromatherapy candle. Maybe we should buy a cross. We think. We make a list:
Do we ever study? Do we ever pray and meditate?
No.
We think about it. Thinking about these things gives us great pleasure. People ask. We say that yes, we have decided to study and pray. We feel spiritual.
Or…
We pull a copy of the Bible from the shelf. Blow off the dust. Open to a Gospel. And start reading. We let our imagination and curiosity loose. We have questions and find someone to discuss those.
Or…
We pause in the early morning even for just a moment. We close our eyes. We regulate our breathing—slow down, in/out, in rhythm. We turn our thoughts toward God. Recognizing that the thoughts will drift, we gently return to God. It may only be five minutes. Or even two. But, we did it. And it feels better.
Someday could be today.
The Revised Common Lectionary readings for last Sunday contained reading from the second chapter of the letter from James (the half-brother of Jesus). This letter is part of the wisdom literature of the Bible. James applies the words of Jesus to the everyday circumstances of living a life of following Jesus.
There is obviously something here for me to infuse into my daily life. I heard a sermon and then read a meditation on the the instructions of this chapter.
Consider that the word has gone throughout the city neighborhood that there are regular meetings at your house where people sing and share stories and listen to teachers. Some of the “cool kids” from the neighborhood show up and are welcomed. Some of the geeks and poor show up. They are shown seats in the back. Some bring a cornucopia of snacks to eat during the meeting. Others have nothing.
James told his followers (and us) that behavior was flat-out wrong.
Practice looking into your heart and then practice recognizing others from the inside out rather than the outside in.
I use the word “practice” intentionally. Life isn’t a one-shot deal. It’s practice where we do it over and over until we get it right. And then keep improving.
So, to end where I began—what areas of life do I need more intentional practice?
John Shirk writes at The Catch website about NFL players returning from injuries. It’s appropriate for new players, as well. They can spend time watching films, discussing what offenses work best against which defenses, lifting weights.
Preparation is good, indeed essential for professional level performance. It matters not a bit if the player never enters the field of play and performs.
Let us consider us. How much time do we spend in preparation? Going to church, discussing why this theology is better than that theology, attending meetings to discuss church growth?
Jesus taught in the church of his day (synagogues). Almost all the stories that are told about him have him out in the community. Talking with curious and searching people. Healing physical ailments. Healing emotional ailments. Guiding. Mentoring.
I’d guess that the same should go for his disciples—those who claim to follow him. Is it time for us to get out of the training room and into the playing field?
{I ask that of me as well as challenging you.]
How do you know a Christian? Is there a way to tell who is and who isn’t? Do you quiz them on their beliefs to see how well they line up with the Nicene Creed? Do you ask them if they’ve invited Jesus into their hearts? One answer is to check their behavior. If becoming united to Christ changes us, then one should expect to see those changes lived out in everyday life. A number of the Church Fathers suggested a test like this one, though the specific change they were looking for may come as a surprise.—Cody Cook
The early church grew in spurts when the people around them said, “I want what they’ve got.” How is it going for you?
Often people with little money experience a happier life than people with great wealth.
Sometimes people with great (or moderate) wealth find many ways toward generosity benefitting manifold charitable organizations helping many.
Sometimes people with great (or even moderate) wealth use that wealth to wield power over people, ministries, organizations, even governments.
The common denominator—heart condition. Have you checked in with your spiritual cardiologist recently? Where is your heart regarding wealth or lack of it?
I’ve been thinking about organizations. Large ones. Smaller ones. Businesses. Non-profits. Religious.
An idea infuses a leader’s mind. I need to spread the idea, she thinks. Oh, I know, let us birth a program. We will compose a theme. Maybe it can sire a letterism that looks cool on a T-shirt. We will have meetings. We will have small groups focus on the theme for a period of time—say three months.
Then the theme will die. The T-shirts become what the people wear when they paint the bedroom. The banners go into storage.
Or, maybe…
The leader (at any level) decides to act in a certain way. He models a behavior. She asks questions and invites honest feedback. Maybe they quit “majoring in the minors” and begin focusing on what’s important.
Maybe everyone’s heart changes. Maybe just a little at a time. It’s like losing weight. A little change and maybe you lose a pound a week. In a year, there has been a lifestyle change and 50 pounds are gone. Often change is like that. It creeps up on us until one day realization of change hits our consciousness.
A little at a time over time. A consistent approach.
Physical fitness and health link to emotional fitness and health link to spiritual fitness and health.
Sure, genes and traumatic incidents play a significant role in physical and emotional illnesses. But for as much as we can control, we can work on all of these intertwined parts of our whole life.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and his team call it the “Positive Corner of the Internet.” Their newsletter is filled with evaluation of studies and nutritional guides designed to help us improve our physical selves.
Today’s issue reported three studies that all showed how consistency of even small improvements in diet and exercise significantly impact health and well being.
I add that the same approach to spiritual fitness works. Say you are starting from no spiritual discipline. Just getting out of bed five minutes earlier to read half of a chapter of a Gospel or to take those moments to focus on God done regularly leads to noticeable improvements in how you feel during the day. Soon you will find that five minutes expand to a half-hour. Perhaps half reading something that feeds the mind and soul and then meditating on that for the other fifteen minutes.
Make a subtle change in what and how you eat by cutting portion size
Park you car in the employee parking lot or supermarket lot such that you walk more
Rise early to spend just a few minutes of reading and meditation
Those three small disciplines at whatever stage of life you are in will improve your life.
Gary Mintchell
Faith Venture 