Category: Spiritual Balance

Meditating on Marriage

I’m doing a lot of meditating today. Actually, I’m spending most of the day reminiscing and meditating on marriage. Specifically my marriage, and the 35 years of wedded bliss my husband and I are celebrating today.

Has it always been wedded bliss? No. Sometimes it’s been downright painful, tough, agonizing. For both of us.

At some points I’m sure both of us have asked ourselves whether we married the “right” person. Or questioned whether we should have married at all.

Indeed, sharing life with someone else—when you need to compromise, when sometimes it’s 90% give on your end and the other person is in total receive mode, when family and financial stress, extreme illness, overwork and exhaustion bear down on you and you feel totally alone in your anguish—can be difficult. It can stretch you beyond what feels like your limit.

But it can also be the most rewarding experience. Sharing day-to-day life with someone else. Laughing with them, crying with them, planning, strategizing, exploring, hoping and laboring side-by-side with them. Shooting for the stars and reaching them together. Suffering with them. Growing with them. Compromising. Having little clones of both of you and raising them to be bigger or better clones. Being fruitful and multiplying, in all areas of life.

 

I have the opportunity to spend all day meditating on it—retracing when and how we started, where we’ve been, what we’ve done together, (I highly recommend doing that. You’d be surprised at just how much you’ve managed to accomplish together.), what we want to accomplish together, where I hope we are next month, next year, in five years and beyond. God willing.

And I’ll be thanking God a lot in the meditation. He’s brought us through some tragedies and difficulties we never could have weathered or survived without Him.

I’ll be meditating alone because my beloved has to work. Usually we’d make sure we both have the day off, and you think we’d make sure that happened again for such a BIG year, but we’re going to be heading out of town in a few days to breathe some cool mountain air, do some pilgrimage training, and making our marriage and family assessment, a yearly ritual for us. If we don’t know where we’ve come from or where we want to go, any path will get us somewhere.

But we aren’t satisfied with just “somewhere.” We want to have some idea where we’re going, or would like to go in our married life.

 

Get away from normal to clear your mind and reconnect—

Getting away from our homestead, into a different, relaxing environment helps us focus and spend uninterrupted time reflecting, analyzing, praying and planning. And we’ll be going on that special pilgrimage soon, so that’s another event we have to look forward to, to celebrate all these years together.

So I’m spending the day prepping for our getaway, asking myself where I’d like to see me, us, and, yes, my beloved, in another year. In the three major areas of life:

 

Physical

Emotional

Spiritual

 

Do some serious talking and encouraging—

And I want my beloved to tell me where he’d like to see me in that time too. Nothing encourages a husband or wife more than having the support of their spouse, and then hearing how proud they are of you. Generous atta girl and atta boy complements will be liberally verbalized.

 

Dig in and identify—

We’ll peel back layers in the onions of faith, family, and work. Identify which onions are getting old or stinky, or have rotted or dried out. Which onions need to be planted and nurtured, and which onions need to be tossed out and relegated to the past.

 

Celebrate!

We’ll end today with a special candlelight dinner concocted at home. Something we used to do in our young-and-broke days. Something we’ve come to realize in our old-and-secure days was more meaningful, memorable, and enjoyable than dropping a wad at a 5-star restaurant, although we’ve enjoyed those celebrations too. We’ll make dinner together and break out the wedding china and crystal and toast ourselves. And praise our Lord who has bound us securely together by His mighty hand and love.

Just thinking about all of that right now, as I write this, makes me happy. Planning the future together is thrilling, even when we don’t always see eye-to-eye; even when one of us is a little more enthusiastic, or pessimistic, about the future. After all these years we have learned to hope all things. Together.

 

And that’s what I’m celebrating most. Togetherness. Sustainability. Love. In its purest form.

Unconditional. From both sides of the marriage aisle.

 

Forgive me if this sounds terribly arrogant, but here’s to us!

 

NEXT WEEK: We’ll return to our brief overview of the different worldviews that have shaped our thinking and politics, often unintentionally. They’re worth knowing and analyzing, so you can better understand how people’s beliefs and views are shaped, and how your faith may have been tainted by some of the teachings.

 

Until then, thanks for letting me indulge myself in celebration. And if you’re looking for ways to recharge your relationship, I encourage you to do an onion-peelback together. But a word of caution: you must be willing to listen when the other person shares their heart, without assessment or snarky, too-quick comebacks. Listen in a way that encourages them to talk. Let them be vulnerable. That’s one way you can encourage them to hold your heart gently, and know you’re holding theirs.

 

Until next week!

Blessings,

Andrea

May you prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 2).

Photo by David Kokainis

In the Beginning—Are We More Spirit Than Body?

Body and spirit. That’s how the Lord made us. All we need to do is return to the first book of the Bible—Genesis—to learn that.

In Genesis 1:26-27 and 2:7, the New International Version version says,

 

“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness,…

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

“Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

 

Clearly, at that point, once God breathed life into Adam and Eve, they were both spirit and body. Combined. Melded perfectly—body and spirit—into human beings. A man and a woman.

 

And God said it was good.

 

So the question is—

If God thought the spirit was the most important aspect or component, why did He bother to encase man’s spirit in flesh? Why go to the trouble?

There’s no indication from Scripture that Adam’s spirit existed in heaven prior to his creation or “birth,” and there’s no indication ours do either.

When Adam started life, the intention was for him to be perfect, unblemished, living forever in perfect communion with God. No pain, no suffering, no illness, no death.

God even walked with them in the garden in the cool of the afternoon. Why would he bother to do that if flesh, and physical communion, weren’t as important as the spiritual?

 

I may be way off in my thinking, but I get the impression that—from the beginning—the body was pretty important to God, and still is.

 

I’ll explain why I think that’s true NEXT WEEK.

 

But I’d like to hear your opinion. What do you think?

 

Until next week!

Blessings,

Andrea

May you prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 2).

Photo by Aaron Burden

Was Jesus a Philosopher?

Lots of people refer to Christianity as a philosophy. But is it, and was its namesake a philosopher?

It’s been a while since we’ve looked at the definition of philosophy, so let’s refresh our memories, so we can all be on the same page. Stay with me as we  slug through some of the terms and definitions. (And you’ll want to stay with the entire post to get to the great YouTube video I’ve included at the end!)

 

 Merriam-Webster online provides five definitions:

 

  1. a (1) : all learning exclusive of technical preceptsand practical arts

(2) : the sciences and liberal arts exclusive of medicine, law, and theology

  • a doctor of philosophy

(3) : the 4-year college course of a major seminary

b (1) archaic : physical science

(2) : ethics

c : a discipline comprising as its core logic, aesthetics, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology

2a : pursuit of wisdom

b : a search for a general understanding of values and reality by chiefly speculative rather than observational means

c : an analysis of the grounds of and concepts expressing fundamental beliefs

3a : a system of philosophical concepts

b : a theory underlying or regarding a sphere of activity or thought

  • the philosophyof war

4a : the most basic beliefs, concepts, and attitudes of an individual or group

b : calmness of temper and judgment befitting a philosopher

 

Let’s begin at number 1.

Would Christianity be considered “all learning exclusive of technical precepts and practical arts”? Does Christianity notconcern itself with technical precepts, with precepts defined as a general rule to guide or regulate thought and behavior? I think it would depend upon how you define technical, but it certainly does provide general rules that guide our thought and behavior. Or should.

We can dismiss definition 1(2) because it specifically excludes theology, which Christianity most definitely is.

Since Christianity is sometimes offered as a 4-year course in a seminary, so we can say, “yes” to 1 a. (3).

Christianity certainly falls into the definition found in 1. c. “a discipline comprising as its core logic, aesthetics, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology.” Epistemology being the study of uncovering what’s justified belief and what’s merely opinion.

And in a tangential way, it can be considered a pursuit of wisdom, because believers study Christ and the Bible in order to gain knowledge, wisdom and discernment. So let’s give a thumbs up to 2a.

 

A breakdown—

When we arrive at definition 2 b. though, I think we see a crack. Christianity is not speculative. At least, fundamental Christians don’t believe it to be. More liberal thinkers might agree with this definition, though. Many of them consider much of Scripture to be speculative, hinging on man’s definition throughout the centuries and open to modern interpretations. Kind of like a “living” constitution, where people believe it means what it should mean for a particular time and generation. Fluid.

I don’t see Christianity as fluid, although I will say that our understanding of some of God’s words may be full of holes and based on ignorance or bias.

Christianity can also be an analysis of the grounds of and concepts expressing fundamental beliefs that we see in definition 2 c.

But it’s not a system, and I would argue vehemently that it’s not a theory. A theory is a supposition, an idea, or principles that mandate a particular action. You could say that Christianity and The Bible present principles to guide us, but that’s not what the foundation of Christianity, or God-focused belief is. You can look to many other religions for that type of structure or belief.

And then we arrive at the definition we can’t deny fits into the Christianity construct— 4a.

 

“The most basic beliefs, concepts, and attitudes of an individual or group.”

 

If someone narrowed down a Christian’s beliefs, concepts, and attitudes, or did that with the church as a whole, they should be able to unearth the core principles a believer attests to. The non-negotiables that categorize you as a follower of Christ. Or The Way, as the first believers originally called it.

 

I only wish more Christians could be referred to as philosophers, with corresponding calm temperaments and judgment as the final definition states.

 

Conclusions—What about Jesus?

So, if we come to the conclusion that in some ways Christianity can be defined as and studied as a philosophy, can we make the statement that Jesus was a philosopher?

 

If he was a philosopher, was Jesus a different kind of philosopher?

Take a moment to listen to what Christian speaker, George Haraksin—from Reasons to Believe—has to say about it in this YouTube video. It’s less than four minutes and may challenge and broaden your thinking.

 

What do you think? And does it matter?

 

NEXT WEEK: I’ll take a break to celebrate and discuss a special occasion in my life, from a meditation perspective. (This is an update and change from the original published post.)

 

Until then,

Keep growing and challenging yourself in your faith and understanding of God’s truth!

Blessings,

 Andrea

May you prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 2).

Photo by Simeon Jacobsen

Jesus in the Garden: Body, Mind and Spirit

The moonlight filtering through the garden’s ancient, gnarled olive trees casts dancing shadows on the ground. A young man, muscled and toned from years of outdoor living, frequent walking and laboring as a carpenter kneels alone on the cool soil, a few yards from three friends who have fallen asleep.

Just minutes before, the young man’s festive mood had changed from one of peace and strength to sorrow and deep distress. He expresses as much to his friends and asks them to sit and watch with him while he goes to pray. But they can’t. They’re tired after the long day, and their full stomachs following the special celebration meal have made them sleepy.

The young man’s distress is verbalized in his prayer. “Please, Lord, take this cup from me.” Clearly he would rather not do what he’s being asked to do. He prays, and then, agitated, rises to check on his friends, or be encouraged by their presence.

But they are sleeping, and the young man chastises one of them for not being able to stay awake with him, to support him and keep watch. Danger is lurking. The young man knows it’s only a matter of time before it arrives, and he doesn’t want his dearest friends to be blindsided by it. They don’t have a clue what’s about to happen. “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,” he tells them.

He again admonishes them to watch and pray, and then returns to his spot to continue his beseeching conversation with God. Then he checks on his friends again, who have once again fallen asleep. Again he admonishes them and warns them to stay awake before he returns one more time to his prayer.

This time his distress becomes severe, and he sweats so profusely that his pores ooze drops of blood. It looks as though the life is draining out of him, weakening him physically. But he makes his decision, accepts his fate, and rises to meet his friends for the final time before being grabbed and arrested in front of them and dragged away for trial.

 

A closer look—

Most of you are probably familiar with this story—Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane with his disciples after their Passover meal. Jesus selecting three of his closest disciples to follow him farther into the garden to sit, watch, and pray while He beseeches His Father to remove the punishment and suffering of the cross that he’ll soon have to endure.

In this story, Jesus displays both his physical and spiritual sides. Acutely. But can you tell what he is more of—physical or spiritual?

 

Body, Mind, Spirit? Or all three—

He craves the physical closeness and emotional support of his friends. He seems to crave assurance that they have his back. When he discovers—two times—that they don’t, he is angry and calls them out for their weakness. Their physical weakness, not their spiritual deficiency. He recognizes them for what they are—weak men who have difficulty overcoming their body’s physical needs and desires. And he warns them about the dangers of letting the physical overrule and control the spiritual.

By the third time, he confronts them again, but essentially tells them it doesn’t matter anymore. The peace of the night (for them) is over. Indeed, life as they have been living it will abruptly cease within hours.

 

Being God incarnate, Jesus was spirit, The Word itself. But He was also physical, that spirit encased in flesh. On this night, he demonstrates both the body and the spirit to the extremes.

 

What about us?

Is it realistic to expect us to do any less? Especially since we are not God in the flesh—we are not God at all—and we are more likely to battle with our body’s frailties, shortcomings and demands than Jesus.

On that night He demonstrated both body and spirit. Yes, the Spirit won the battle over the body for Him, but that does not detract from the fact that His body suffered immeasurably, and would suffer even more when it is beaten, pierced and hung soon after His arrest.

 

Our Lord suffered physically, emotionally and spiritually, a triad of pain.

Body, mind and spirit.

 

If our Lord suffered so, how can we expect to be spared from sometimes being more body than spirit, not an equal balance of both, or times when we manage to be more spirit than body?

 

And you?

What has your experience been?

 

Until next week,

Rejoice in the complexity of being both body and spirit!

Andrea

May you prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 2).

 Photo by Antoine Perier

Suffering from FOMO? Time to Experience JOMO!

Are you a social media hound? Do you live vicariously through others? Do you suffer from FOMO—the fear of missing out? Without realizing it, have you succumbed to Silicon Valley’s must-be-in-the-know hype and algorithms designed to keep you attached to their social media platforms?

Then it might be time for you to unplug, turn off, scale down, disengage and tune out! It’s time to experience JOMO—the Joy of Missing Out!

 

The research—

Study after study seems to conclude that our digital device habits are making us physically, emotionally (and often spiritually) sick. Eye muscles, brain re-wiring, neck pain, headaches, shortened attention span, depression and the emergence of the new “tech neck” neck wrinkles are just a few associated ailments.

You’d tend to think it’s teens and college kids who are the sufferers. And they are. But evidently adults—on average—spend four hours a day on their social feeds. Catching up, tuning in, watching, watching, watching and updating.

I think it’s time for all of us to do some self-examination on why we’ve managed to get ourselves hooked on these sites and be ruthless about taking some digital detox time.

 

Make some changes—

While it may be easier to initiate a new practice on the weekend, I want you to at least be paying more attention to your social media habits, recording your usage time, being mindful of why you’re updating, watching and reading and then trying some of the following tech-free activities, especially when you get the urge to check your social feed on your phone:

 

  1. Go for a Sunday drive WITHOUT your phone. Or shut it off and throw it in the car trunk. Stop for lunch some place and enjoy a nice, relaxing, lengthy meal without snagging your phone from the car. (Daydreaming really is a lost art. Or chatting with the waitress.)
  2. Set a timer to alert you to when you’ve spent an hour on your social media and then turn it off immediately when the timer dings.
  3. When you feel the urge to open Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram or any of the other sites, take a meditation moment instead. Then make sure you don’t go to the site after the meditation.
  4. Plan for a tech-free vacation and leave your computer, tablet, etc. at home.
  5. Select a tech-free room in your house, where computers, phones, tablets, etc. are off limits. The bedroom would probably be the best place because it would help you get out of the harmful habit of reading emails or the news online just before you switch off the lights to go to bed. You’re sleep will improve. Trust me!
  6. Embark on a connection-free vacation to a WiFi and cell-phone connection-free location. A co-worker of my husband’s says he travels to a special place in Indonesia because there’s no WiFi there, and the company can’t connect with him! Be thinking about where you could go and really leave it all behind.
  7. Stop giving out your email address and phone number to everyone, or every store or organization that asks you for it, so you can receive notice of new offers and special sales. You’ll save money.

 

Experience the joy of spending some uninterrupted time with yourself, with nature, with others, with your Creator.

Experience the joy of daydreaming again.

Experience the joy of tech-free freedom.

Improve your emotional, physical and spiritual health.

Stop obsessing over what everyone else is saying about the world situation and their lives.

Thousands of generations before us did just fine living tech-free. Really. In many ways they did much better. Maybe it’s time for us to go backward in some areas and defy the tech revolution!

And while you’re reducing your tech and social media time, shut off the television.

There’s certainly not much joying going around on that device.

 

 

 

Share your journey—

If you’ve been able to slay the FOMO, tell us what you did to accomplish it!

And tell me how much you’ve been able to reduce your social media time in a week.

 

NEXT WEEK: Was Jesus a philosopher?

Until then,

Experience what joys life has to offer you (the ones you’ve been overlooking) when you’re missing out!

Blessings,

Andrea

May you prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 2).

“No social media” photo by The Arizona Beehive