Ahhh meditation. A nice cushion, a quiet room. You, closing your eyes serenely. Breath in and out, and . . . what? Not your cup of tea? The only “quiet” room you have available to you is the laundry room? I get it, meditation is having a moment right now. Despite all the attention and fanfare over something free and accessible to all, you shouldn’t “have” to feel like your spiritual life needs it. To be clear, you need nothing in this world but your relationship with God. This means every habit, every material item, factors underneath this equation–not on top of it. That said, meditation is not for everyone. You can still desire the connection meditation gives you with God, that itself is attainable without it. Still interested? Here’s how:
1. Practice a stillness diet year-round
In a previous post we looked at ways to foster stillness in our lives during the Christmas season. But there is no better time than the present to make this part of your daily life. Conducting your routine without a TV on in the background, a podcast blaring or music playing brings you down to those essential everyday tasks. There is nowhere to hide, presence is everywhere. Being able to tap into that presence and embrace the moment WILL bring you closer to God because it peels away all our defenses to ignore the connection we feel with everything created in this world. That includes everything, the dishwasher pod, the dirty fork, etc. Just by being you connect yourself with God’s creation, and it’s impossible not to feel a subtle hum of aliveness whenever you fully embrace this lifestyle. It’s hard, especially in our never-bored world of smartphones. Start easy, and give yourself lots of breaks. Fair warning: once you get into the rhythm of a stillness diet, it’s very hard to go back to the way you once lived. You will watch way less television and scroll through far fewer Instagram posts, but you will gain peace and a renewed sense of serenity.
2. Embrace the slow life.
Ever wonder why the tortoise lives so long? Watch it move. Veeeeeery slowly. I think of myself only a few years back, rushing through everything. I got more done, certainly. But the quality stunk. Embrace quality in your life by slowing things down considerably. Take the slowest lane in traffic, the longest line in the store. Revel in the DMV! If waiting is the hardest part, it shows you there is wisdom to be gained in those long gaps of time. Look all around you. SEE what’s going on. Nothing in your life is a coincidence, and God speaks in the smallest whisper. If you do this you’ll never truly be bored. You’ll also foster a renewed sense of time, and understanding of what’s really important. Not our egos and certainly not earthly matters. If we are to support God’s kingdom we must embrace His timing, which means releasing our sense of control over our own.
3. Find your flow.
Certain activities help you connect with the moment. You feel a loss of time and a feeling of lightness and eternity. Don’t shake your head! Think carefully. What activity can you do even when you are tired, even when (or especially when) you have a lot on your mind? For me it’s writing. When I write, I get excited, I push through the words, eager to get the concept on the page. You might love running, or cooking. Those moments when we are truly engaged in creative acts honor or Father because we are living his intention to be our best selves. See how these engagements offer something up more than just our own self-fulfillment. Write for a purpose, cook for a friend. Clean the house for someone who is ill. By engaging in these tasks you not only sharpen your God-given skills, but you also hone in on the gift of the present.
4. Find your breath
Remember when the doctor tells you to take three deep breaths? Notice how amazing that feels. If you did nothing else other than to notice your breath you’ll be heads and tails beyond most in connecting with the most beautiful gift of all. God breathed life into us, and by acknowledging that precious breath you can honor that gift. Set a timer on your watch or phone for every 30 minutes to start. Every time it goes off, take a moment to notice the breath. Don’t like scheduling? Marry your habit with something you do daily, like going to the bathroom, sitting down for a meal, or picking up your smartphone. Beyond acknowledging the moment and recognizing God’s gift, it just feels so dang good.
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These practices aren’t anti-meditation. In fact, they can even be a nice supplement. The goal is to find different ways of connecting with your essential being & keep yourself anchored to God. Think of it like any other relationship. You have to turn down the music to hear the conversation.
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