Simon’s reflection last week on Rethinking Wilderness was well worth a read and if you haven’t done so already, I encourage you to give it some time to reflect on. I really resonated with the reflection, as I have long been drawn to wilderness spaces, both physically and spiritually. One particular idea stuck with me. On the subject of encounter with God and hearing God speak, the question is asked, “What better place for an important meeting that one without distractions?”
It was the word ‘distraction’ that stopped me in my tracks. We live in a world full to bursting with distraction. Our souls are literally assaulted all day, every day, with a barrage of content, opinion, news feeds and expectations. We carry the world at our fingertips on these little devices in our pockets. I was having a conversation with someone just last night about this, we not designed to have this much ‘input’, this much knowledge and awareness of negative things that are happening around the world. Our finite hearts are struggling to take it and so we end up with either compassion fatigue, addicted to these little devices, part of the mental health crisis or worse, so desensitised that we become passive and lethargic towards the issues.
Further distraction comes with all the extra activity that seems to ramp up during the summer months. I’m writing this from my old stomping ground of Cornwall where I’m visiting family and friends. The sun is shining, and the tourists are here en-masse. There’s surf, music, restaurants and bars and everyone is feeling great. I’m sucked in, my days are full and I’m collapsing into bed at the end of the day. But I’m left with the question, where has God been through it all? I’m certain that He’s here always, upholding us all, omnipresent, “filling everything in every way” (Ephesians 1:23). What’s changed is our/my awareness of that presence. My attention has been pulled away and I’m distracted. This past week or so in Cornwall I haven’t prayed as I usually would or with the same frequency, I haven’t experienced God in the same way, and I haven’t even acknowledged God as I usually would. This can be OK, sometimes. Periods of rest mean a change in rhythm, but I know in my heart that there is also some neglect mixed into there too.
This returns me to the monastic ideas that I’ve been exploring with my wife, church friends and with the Order of the Mustard Seed (www.orderofthemustardseed.com). Rhythms and spiritual practices keep us grounded in the ways of God, realign us to the path when we stray a little and they turn our attention back to God when we’ve become distracted. This will not be achieved without grace and intentionality.
Not many of us live in a monastic setting where our hours of work, prayer, eating and community life are fixed each day. But we can take some of the essence of monastic practice and introduce it to our busy, fragmented and distracted lives. It’s been said many times that spiritual practices can be seen like a trellis structure, to uphold us and enable and support us to grow. And oh my goodness, do we need some stability, rootedness and re-centring as we navigate the world around us and the invitations it brings for some serious distraction.
Sometimes it feels like the world wants to keep us ‘checked out’ from the God-reality we’re being invited to experience. Like a Las Vegas casino - open 24 hours a day, free drinks and smiles all round…..just keep plugged into the system, keep pumping money in the slots and spinning the tables. Keep looking at your device, keep consuming, keep searching for the next thing that will satisfy!
On the deepest level of the soul, we’re all searching for God, for deep union with Him. It’s not going to happen when we’re apart from Jesus. Apart from Him we can do nothing. Go and read John 15 again just to reorient yourself. So, while your summer rhythm may change and the pace may be different from the rest of the year, my encouragement is to be intentional about your time. Don’t allow your time to be robbed. If it’s rest that you’re entering, then enter fully. Allow Jesus to lead you by still waters, allow your soul to be cared for and nurtured by the One who knows you best. If you’re entering a time of summer missions, may I suggest you take time to pause, realign to Jesus, recognise He is the source of your life and work and that you must proceed only with Him.
A spiritual practice is whatever turns your attention and affection towards God, whatever helps align with His reality, truth and love. What might your practices be this summer season? Scripture and prayer are the obvious ones. What are the others that are unique to you? I suggest a moment to discern, where do I feel most alive? And then go and do that. But maybe invite Jesus into that. If it’s surfing then go surf and revel in the love and smile of God; if it’s walking in the countryside, then go for a walk with God, I’m certain He’d love to meet with you in the beauty of the things He’s made; maybe it’s your garden, growing some veggies for the table or flowers for the explosion of colour and life; maybe it’s to create, to bring some something from your own inner landscape, so go paint that picture, carve that spoon, or write that song…..with God!
There are ways to connect with God in silence and solitude and in community; in formal church settings and in the wilderness. He’s always drawing us towards His heart. He delights in us and rejoices over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17). In a summer of potential distraction, let’s remember this truth and let it be the foundation for our lives as well that the truth that leads us towards spacious places.
May joy abound.
Shalom.
Jon Timms Director: Scotland & North of England
Please note that this is the last RM team reflection before our summer break. Reflections will return to your inboxes and on the website on 8th September.
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