Fill me with your spirit, Lord

The phrase “Fill me with your spirit, Lord” popped into my head while I was running this morning, and kept repeating, almost like a mantra. At my church women’s retreat yesterday, we had the discussion that sometimes repetitive exercise, like running, can have the benefits of meditation – point made today.

As I let the experience wash over me, almost like God’s spirit was filling me and splashing out, I felt so grateful. For the beautiful fiery sunrise. For my family and friends. For my church family. For my work and my writing. For my faithful Lord.

I was almost in tears with the emotions I felt as I ran along just breathing in the spirit. Thank you Lord for all my blessings. Help me to be a blessing today.

 

Blurring the lines between physical and spiritual training

Photo courtesy of zoetnet (Creative Commons)

Running each morning is an act of worship as much as exercise.

Yes, it’s a habit. Yes, it has become part of my morning routine. Yes, I feel incomplete without it.

But digging down deeper, I’ve realized there is more to the practice than just an endorphin rush. With each step, as my breathing settles into a rhythm, my mind begins to clear and a sort of peace settles in. Most days anyway. A song starts in my head, keeping time with my footsteps. I pray. I dream.

The route is decided before I head out, so there’s only enough alertness needed to watch for cars or creatures (like the skunk I’ve seen a couple of times). Running in the dark is preferable because it feels like a protective cover that increases the sense of peace.

The most satisfying runs result in extreme clarity of thought –ideas start flooding in and I fill the voice recorder capturing them – blog ideas, the solution to a problem at work, phrases to use in writing.

Normally a clock-watcher, the time seems to disappear for me on a run. As it fades into the background, I begin to notice the moon, sunrise, clouds, birds singing, deer, a fox.

When I open myself to the beauty of God around me and thank Him for that, He responds by unblocking my mind. I continue to be amazed at how a physical activity can become such a spiritual experience.

When has physical activity stimulated your mind and spirit?

 

Lessons from ironing

Photo courtesy bcmom (Creative Commons)

I have to admit I truly hate ironing. It’s probably my least favorite chore, and I tend to leave it for Sunday afternoons, when I pretty much have to iron to have clothes for the work week.

So today after church, I set up the ironing board and got to work, mumbling under my breath about how I hate ironing. Then it occurred to me that if I thought about it, there might be a leadership lesson in the activity – something like Chris LoCurto finding leadership lessons at restaurants or on the racetrack.

Delegation? Not really, no one to delegate it to. Time management? I do tend to put it off until there are no clothes left to wear. But nothing seemed quite right.

I just let my mind wander.

Then I realized the key. Contemplative time.

Once I quit telling myself how much I hated what I was doing, it was a great opportunity to let my mind unhook. No agenda, no distractions, no plan. Just me and my thoughts.

I am not often still. I am amazed at people who meditate. I always have lists, deadlines, projects, email, social media, reading, writing. There’s always something to work on, and when I’m not working, I’m figuring out what is next on the list to be accomplished. My mind is always active and ideas tend to get muddled.

But today was different. It was quiet, with no TV, music, or electronics so my mind could drift. I thought about this blog. I mulled over the sermon from church this morning. For once in a long time, the “noise” of obligations quieted.

It was refreshing.

Yes, you read that right – ironing was refreshing. Amazing.

I realize I need to seek more opportunities like that to allow for contemplation. Maybe while doing the dishes. While running, certainly.

And I need to be proactive about it – seek time after church, or after a leadership conference, or a powerful podcast to allow time to process what I’ve heard.

So my question for you is this, do you allow yourself contemplative time? If so, how much more effective does it make you as a leader, spouse, parent, or co-worker?

 

Sound of Silence

I don’t know how to be still.

I recently spent several hours in a hospital sitting area, waiting on a family member (no worries, it was a simple procedure with a successful outcome).

I brought all sorts of things to do because I don’t “wait” well. As I looked around, the other people seemed so calm. Most were reading a magazine, holding a Kindle or other ereader, talking softly or just sitting.

I, on the other hand, had my laptop out, Blackberry at the ready, wifi connected, and my Kindle Fire handy. I was fidgety and had enough to keep me busy all day. Then it occurred to me, what is wrong with me?

I need to learn the art of rest. Of quiet.

I have struggled with this topic and have written previously (click here) about Sabbath. I stay busy and connected constantly –  working, checking email, Facebook, Twitter  or blogs, and planning other projects or tasks I need to get done. A “day off,” whether it’s a weekend or a vacation day, is still “planned” – jog, errands, cleaning, project, etc. etc. etc. I rarely even take rest days from running.

And in all of this activity, how can I be attentive to God?

I need to learn to be still. I need to learn to quiet my mind so that I can hear God’s whisper.

But how does one do that? How do I quiet the noise in my mind to listen to Him?

For someone wired like me, even that becomes a “project”!

In his book “The Leadership Ellipse,” Robert A. Fryling states that “The great African theologian Augustine observed that we don’t open our arms to receive from God because they are already so full with our own concerns.”

I think that can relate to our minds, as well. I find that often when I pray, I’m so busy talking and asking, that I don’t often wait and listen.

Fryling also says that “Sabbath keeping is not a panacea for all of our anxieties and discontents, but it is that tangible, weekly reminder that God is God and we are not.”

No matter how much I worry and fret over things, in the end, I really have no control because it is all God’s timing. What if instead, I nourish my spirit with quiet contemplation of scripture and the many blessings God has showered on me? Would that help me be more effective as an ambassador of Christ?

My pastor, Chris Joiner, recently wrote a blog on The Gift of Silence, in which he says:

“If the church has a place in the coming so-called “post-Christian” era, surely it will be in the cultivation of a counter-cultural wisdom, an antidote to frenetic busyness and noise. Perhaps one of the gifts we can offer this bone-tired world is the gift of silence.”

I look forward to exploring ways to seek the gift of silence, both personally and as a church family.

At last year’s Global Leadership Summit simulcast through Willow Creek Church, one of the speakers was Mama Maggie Gobran, who is the founder & CEO of Stephen’s Children Ministry in Cairo, Egypt, and a Nobel Peace Prize Nominee. This gentle, unassuming lady spoke of silence, and her words have stuck with me since.

She said:

“The secret is silence
Silence your body to listen to the words
Silence your tongue to listen to your thoughts
Silence your thoughts to listen to your heart beating
Silence your heart to listen to your spirit
Silence your spirit to listen to His spirit
In silence, you leave many but be with the One.”

Are you up for the challenge? How will you seek silence?

 

Fall Afresh

What do you do when you get bogged down? You know that feeling – when you feel physically sluggish, mentally numb, and emotionally strung out. Depleted.

It happens to me usually in the summer when the heat is relentless (like lately when we just keep breaking records) and it just seems to wear me down. It can also happen when I get overloaded with too much work, too many projects and too many obligations.

Do you let yourself sink into the “glass mostly empty” mode?

“I have calmed and quieted my soul.” Psalm 131:2

Here are some ways to refresh your spirit, and improve your outlook:

Be grateful: Look for one thing you are grateful for – usually that one thing leads to other things you’re thankful for. Then before you know it, you realize you are truly blessed.

Be gracious: Smile. Greet people by looking them in the eye. When they ask how you are, say “Great!” Snarling at people only makes you both feel worse. Even if you have to force yourself to smile, you will automatically feel a little better.

Be gentle: Give yourself a break. Take some time for yourself, whether that’s reading, writing, watching a movie or spending quiet time with family or friends. We all need to rest and recuperate occasionally.

Be generous: Volunteer. Do something nice for someone unexpectedly. Giving of yourself helps you refocus outside yourself.

Be grounded: Remind yourself of your faith, core values and principles. Pray, read scripture and reconnect spiritually.

What are some ways you refuel your heart, mind and body?

 

A New Day

“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

Morning is my favorite time of day. Everything is fresh, possibilities abound, and we have a new start.

This verse was part of my devotional this morning, and I want to remember it all day. Instead of being caught up in the busyness of a Monday, I want to focus on this being the “Lord’s day” – because after all, every day is the Lord’s day.

Every day is a chance to be thankful and full of praise. Even if things aren’t going our way, we can be confident that they are going the Lord’s way.

What will you do today to embrace the day and rejoice in the Lord?

 

I Feel Free

Have you ever reached that “mind like water” state where time disappears and you are just at peace?

I look forward all week to my long runs on Saturdays, because it’s a chance to challenge myself and run a different route from the same old route I run the other days.

Sometimes, my long runs are brutal – I get hot, thirsty, tired and unmotivated part of the way through and it’s difficult to make myself finish.

I wasn’t sure what to expect today.

I headed out early this morning, so it would still be cool. As I got going, I noticed the  rhythm of my feet on the sidewalk and my breathing, and I thought how peaceful the solitude was after a crowded week.

There was not much traffic. I only passed a couple of other people running or walking.

There were some clouds, so the sun rose gently, not jarringly bright, and the breeze was soft on my face.

I explored a new route, and saw a friendly deer (you can barely see her in the bottom left of the  picture), discovered some beautiful homes, and landscaped office complexes.

Time melted away. My only reminder was my running app that told me as I completed each mile.

After reading Andy Andrews’ ebook The Perfect Moment, I was paying attention. I was intentionally looking for a perfect moment. What a thrill to experience such a satisfying set of perfect moments. The run was incredible. I felt free and at peace.

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.

2 Thessalonians 3:16

Where have you felt at peace this week?

 

Awake My Soul

What a glorious morning God has given us today!

I love running on Sunday mornings – it’s quiet, everything is blooming, it smells fresh, and it kind of begins my worship before church.

Today was especially nice though. I saw the bright sliver of the moon. I saw a deer – just a few feet away as I ran along. And then, the sunrise. I was in the right place at the right time and it was rosy and purple and beautiful.

I had such a sense of peace and hope come over me as I realized that God is in control of everything.

He reminded me once again that I need to be present in each moment – aware of the sights, sounds and people He has placed in front of me.

Had I not looked up when I did, I would have missed the deer as she dashed into the trees.

Had I not looked, I would have missed the glory of that sunrise, because when I looked again, the vibrant colors had faded to pastel, and then were gone.

I could barely see the moon as I rounded the turn to come home, but it was bright and stunning when I started out.

I will face the day with eyes wide open to see what God has in store for me!