Living Unhurried #82

"Life from the Center [focused/flowing from God] 

is a life of unhurried peace and power. 

It is simple. It is serene. It is amazing. 

It is triumphant. It is radiant. 

It takes no time, but occupies all our time. 

And it makes our life programs new and overcoming. 

We need not get frantic. He is at the helm. 

And when our little day is done 

we lie down in peace, 

for all is well." 

Thomas R. Kelly

Around the dinner table tonight, discuss with those present the ways you've experienced your day:

• What adjectives would you use to describe your day?

• In what ways are you experiencing unhurried peace and power? (and/or when is the last time you've experienced unhurried peace and power?)

• In what ways is your life simple? Serene? Amazing? Triumphant? Radiant?

• Which of these adjectives do you most wish for and why? Share that with the others.

• In what ways is God inviting you to focus/be with Him and "center" your life in your days this week?

At the end of you meal, pray for the person on your right (this could be verbal, or a silent time together where each person silently prays for the others) - pray that God would invite and lead him/her to His Centering Life - and look for the ways unhurried peace and power reveal themselves in and through you this week.

Unhurry Up!

Join the Unhurried Revolution!

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Living Unhurried #81

When's the last time you just flat out skipped?
If it's been over a month, you deserve a delightful frolic - just as beneficial in cardio exercise but a heck of a lot more fun - especially when holding the hand of one you love!

Want to know more benefits - read this (below) from the skipping guru at iSkip.com -

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What are the benefits of skipping? The thing that is unique about skipping is that it has multiple benefits…..Some people skip for the undeniable fitness gains…Some just skip a few steps to lift their moods…and others to reconnect with their buoyant, exuberant childlike spirit. Skipping is great for the body, mind, and spirit!

What are the physical benefits? Skipping is great exercise! It burns twice as many calories as walking ..It has less impact on your joints than running….and it is joy-based, unlike running which generates from our fight or flight reflex. Skipping is more like an animal bouncing and frolicking in a field. It’s a playful way to add variety and fun to your workouts.

What are the mental benefits? Skipping is an instant mood lifter. The next time you are feeling down, try skipping just ten steps. Keep in mind that the times you feel like skipping the least are likely the times that you need it the most. Skipping is joyful, light, and free, which are all things that contribute to a positive attitude and feeling great! It is virtually impossible to skip without smiling!
Skipping also helps you to be true to yourself. Skipping down the road is something that is surprisingly challenging for most adults to do. In order to do so, you must be willing to let go of your fears about what other people think about you. You must defeat your own inner critic that says “People will think you are crazy” and choose to let your childlike spirit have some fun. If you can find the courage to do so regularly, you will be amazed at the feeling of freedom it can bring to your life. When the judgment of others is no longer an issue, magical things can happen.
 +++++++

So have a delightful frolicking skip today - improve your body, mind and soul in unhurried and carefree joy!

Unhurry Up!

Join the Unhurried Revolution!

www.mysoulrefresh.com  

Living Unhurried #80

"A good laugh and a long sleep 

are the best cures in the doctor's book."

~Irish Proverb

What more needs to be said? 

Unhurry Up!

Join the Unhurried Revolution!

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Living Unhurried #79

"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play 

than in a year of conversation."

Plato

 

Take some unhurried time this week and get to know someone - not over coffee, silly. Go out and play - play tennis, lay on the lawn and look up at the clouds, roll down the hills til you're dizzy... or how about a round of Balderdash or seeing who can go the highest on the swingset?

• What did you discover about your companion?
• What did you discover about yourself?
• What did you experience in "playing" that you do not experience in other social activities?
• How might you regularly schedule "playfulness" into your weekly schedule?

Unhurry Up!

 

Join the Unhurried Revolution!

 

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Living Unhurried #78

My friend Jon sent me the link to this song, "Blink" by the band Revive...perhaps one of the theme songs for an unhurried life!

Take a listen...and slow down before today becomes your yesterday...

How might "slowing down" actually help you "do" more with your life?

Unhurry Up!

Join the Unhurried Revolution!

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Living Unhurried #77

Busy is NOT a virtue!
Busy is a choice!

Read this great article, "Why I can't drive 55: The costs and opportunities of life in the fast lane" by Inspired Home Office guru Jennifer Hofmann

She asks some great questions (below) - how would you respond???

Things to try:
1. Take a little time to notice what impact being over-full and in a hurry has on you, your dreams, and those you love. Do you feel satisfied?

2. Ask yourself: Is there something else you’re craving? If so, what do you really need? Trust whatever answers come up for you.

3. Notice whether there’s anything you’d consider letting go of that would add to your sense of satisfaction.

Unhurry Up!

Join the Unhurried Revolution!

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Living Unhurried #76

My pastor recently preached a series on the "Irreducible Core" of our faith. Unhurry up and take about 45 minutes to listen to his sermon on "Loving God"

What word, phrase or concept stirred your soul?

Take a moment and ask the Lord:

• How does this connect to my relationship with you?
• What are you inviting me toward?

Unhurry up!

Join the Unhurried Revolution!

www.mysoulrefresh.com
 

Living Unhurried #75

Read this blog post by Christine Sine re: her trip down under and her encountering the "Stop/Revive/Survive" signs on her journey across Australia.

Then reflect -

What unhurried spaces do I need to include in my day in order to revive and survive?

And...consider giving up the internet for 24 hours...or perhaps even 2 weeks? How do you feel even considering this?

Unhurry Up!

Join the Unhurried Revolution!

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Living Unhurried #74

  

"It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are."

– e. e. cummings

 

 

Many of us dream of the future - of how we'll live "unhurried" once we retire and finally have some time for what we really want to be doing. But what would your "older" self advise your current self in regard to living and choices? Below is an exercise I found in The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. Take a few moments over the next few days and work through this exercise...see what you might discover about what your soul is longing for and/or fearing...

"Describe yourself at 80. 

What did you do at 50 that you really enjoyed? Be specific.
Now write yourself a letter from your 80 year old to your current age. 

What would you tell yourself? 
What interests would you urge yourself to pursue? 
What dreams would you encourage?"

Borrowed from The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

• What did you discover about yourself in this exercise? 
• Is your soul inviting you to make some mid-course corrections? 
• How do you feel about your letter to yourself? What excites you? What concerns you?
• Who can you share your discoveries with?

Unhurry up!

Join the Unhurried Revolution!

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Living Unhurried #73

Water - we're 70+% made of it. And we are in desperate need of clean, fresh water intake every day.

Rather than write a bunch on the benefits of water, go take a look at this article.

And over the weekend, plan to drink 6-8 ounces of water 8 times a day (hopefully not right before bed - smile smile.)  Your skin, your kidneys, and your digestive system will thank you for it.

And each time you do - ask God to reveal other thirsts in your life.
What might He be inviting you to trust Him to satiate in you?

Cheers! and bottoms up!

Unhurry up! Join the Unhurried Revolution!

www.mysoulrefresh.com 

Living Unhurried #72

When I lived in China, we walked or took public transportation nearly everywhere. When my Chinese friends asked me, "What do you do for exercise?" I laughed and answered, "I live in China." Four flights of stairs to my room several times a day, walking to the market, walking to class, etc. There were no "fast food" places that we could drive through - there were no pre-packaged pop-in-the-microwave-meals for us to prepare, there was no dishwasher in which to load our dishes. So there, even cooking, eating, and cleaning up demanded an expenditure of energy for us.

Coming home from living overseas, I have been amazed at how much the USAmerican culture depends upon autos for even the simplest of errands..and how quickly I succumb to the cultural norm of sedentary living. I mean, there are several mailboxes within blocks of my house, but I have been known to drive to them to drop off my netflix rental. Or have you ever taken 5 extra minutes to drive around a parking lot to get a parking spot close to the store when you could have just parked farther away and in less than 5 minutes achieved both exercise and the lack of frustration in trying to vie for a spot?

How might walking even a little bit more benefit my life and health...

• physical - obviously, most of us live pretty sedentary lives...sitting in our cars, at work, on the couch to watch TV. (And why is it I fail to sit when eating a quick meal???) At any rate, walking - whether it is to take the stairs instead of an elevator or to walk to a bathroom farther from you is a small change that will yield a greater healthful benefit over time.

• mental - Walking gets your blood flowing which also increases you ability to pay attention and be creative. Are you stuck - take a 5 minute walk around the block then come back to your work and notice the difference.

• emotional - again, activating your body even in a little way like taking a short walk or doing some stretches, can improve a dour mood. One of the remedies for depression, in fact, is to exercise - to get moving - to engage your body and emotions in the world around you. 

• spiritual - a time to recenter your soul and reflect on the beauty around you. 

• social - you can sit on your behind and IM people or you can actually go out into your neighborhood and interact with people. Why is it we send messages 20,000 miles into space to reach the person down the hall??

• financial - you save on gas money when you alternate a short drive with a walk. And you potentially defer future health bills by caring better for yourself now.

Sometime this week and weekend, pick one place within a mile of your home you usually drive to - the gym, a store, the mail box, and create space in your schedule to walk there instead of driving.
OR
For a week, pick the farthest parking space away from the store entrance - and as you walk into the store, use the time to pray for whomever comes to mind.

Walking - one of the easiest, cheapest ways to take care of yourself!

Unhurry Up! Join the Unhurried Revolution!

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Living Unhurried #71

Take an unhurried gander at yourself in the mirror - a full length one if possible.

• Is it hard or easy looking at yourself? 
• What do you see? 
• Do you hear internal incriminating voices of judgment? or a sense of pleasure?
• Are your thoughts negative, or positive? 
• What do you wish would be different?

If you are satisfied and grateful, take a moment and thank God for your good health.
If you are dissatisfied, in the presence of a loving God who does not love you more or less based upon your looks/health/feelings toward yourself (Rom. 8: 31-39) - take a moment or two and ask, "Lord, what is my desire beneath my discontentment? What small thing might you invite me toward to love myself?"

For the rest of the week, each time you look into a mirror (rear view, at office, in a dressing room, or while brushing your teeth before bed, etc) thank God for the life He's given you and ask Him to reveal to You how He sees you.

Unhurry Up! Join the Unhurried Revolution!

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Living Unhurried #70

 When others ask you, "How are you?" do you ever respond "tired..."?

You're not alone. According to the Center for Disease Control, "The importance of chronic sleep insufficiency is under-recognized as a public health problem, despite being associated with numerous physical and mental health problems, injury, loss of productivity, and mortality (1,2). Approximately 29% of U.S. adults report sleeping less than 7 hours per night (3) and 50--70 million have chronic sleep and wakefulness disorders (1)." **


Many people's solution is to take a sleeping aid - but one researcher says that the risk from taking sleeping pills 30 times or more a month is not much less than the risk of smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. ***  In fact, it's better to get less sleep than to try and get more with a sleep aid. (Naturally the pharmaceutical companies don't want you to know this as they stand to gain $5 billion off of sleep aid products such as Ambien and Lunesta.)

How might you love yourself and your family by getting a good nights' rest? Here are some ideas:

• Do you have a TV or computer in your bedroom - get rid of it. Researchers say to avoid everything in bed except for sleep and sex - and perhaps a little light reading. 
• Consider praying a "compline" prayer before bedtime. Here are some from the celtic Northumbria community.
• Don't drink caffeine within 6 hours of your bedtime.
• Don't drink too much water either...you know what that does! (But do drink lots of water earlier in the day!)
• Set a time when you will go to bed and get up - did you know that if you did this one thing in life, most everything else would fall into place in living unhurried?
• Do not exercise within 3 hours of going to bed.
• Avoid alcohol before bedtime - though it will knock you out at first, a few hours later, it will wake you up.
• Spend time outdoors - getting a full dose of the outdoors will put your body in line with the natural rhythms of awake hours/day and sleep hours/night.
• Lose weight. Yup, that's right, our extra pounds can affect our breathing rhythms and our sleep habits - and some studies even suggest that our lack of sleep affects our leptin levels (that which suppresses our appetites).

 And yes, you may need a better bed or some sleep aids or some white noise machine to mask the street sounds. But before you shell out the dollars for a new mattress or sleep gadget, ask God to help you take care of yourself and your family by alleviating other causes that might keep you from your beauty rest.

Hopefully the next time someone asks you how you are, you'll be able to say, "I feel energized." or "I'm rested." What would it take for that to be a reality for you?

Unhurry Up! Join the Unhurried Revolution!

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Living Unhurried #69

I am becoming increasingly convinced that my hurriedness is detrimental to every area of my life.

• When I opt for 1500 calories to grab a quick bite to eat (expending only about 15 to order and eat them) I am not loving myself...
• When I impulsively buy the latest gadget that I have not saved up for, I am not loving myself and probably not others...
• When I say, "I'm busy" to others' inquiries about how I'm doing - I am really sending a message that I don't want to spend time with them.  I am not loving them...and I am missing out on the potential to be loved. 
• When I drive two blocks to 7-11 to get a cool drink on a hot day, I miss out on a little 10-15 minutes of walking/praying/brain uncluttering in which I can recenter and reFresh my soul on the way to reFreshing my thirst!

This week's "unhurried" experiences will have to do with our physicality - how can I love myself, God and my family by taking care of my health in little ways? This has been prompted by the need in my own life to care for myself as I engage in the demanding job of caring and ministering to others. I am beginning a lifestyle overhaul (email me if you want to know more)

Today's simple unhurried exercise:
When you have to go to the bathroom at work or home, choose the one farthest away. If you only have one, then take a longer route to it. And while you're on the way, breathe deeply and ask God to reveal to you how you can make little choices to live unhurried and love your body!

In the dialogue between Count Rugin to Prince Humperdink in the Princess Bride, "If you haven't got your health, you haven't got anything."

Unhurry Up - Join the Unhurried Revolution!

 www.mysoulrefresh.com

Some Henri Thoughts to ponder...

Spiritual Courage

Courage is connected with taking risks. Jumping the Grand Canyon on a motorbike, coming over Niagara Falls in a barrel, or crossing the ocean in a rowboat are called courageous acts because people risk their lives by doing these things. But none of these daredevil acts comes from the centre of our being. They all come from the desire to test our physical limits and to become famous and popular.

Spiritual courage is something completely different. It is following the deepest desires of our hearts at the risk of losing fame and popularity. It asks of us the willingness to lose our temporal lives in order to gain eternal life.

from here (also check out www.henrinouwen.org
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What is the deepest desire of your heart?
How might fame or popularity be interfering with you receiving/living into that deepest desire?

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Living Unhurried #68

  

"The things we love tell us what we are." 

- St. Thomas Aquinas

Before bed tonight- think back through your week - what/who have you have loved - either enjoyably or in earnest? 

Then ask God, "What do you want me to pay attention to? How are you inviting me to love you, myself and others more?"



Unhurry up  - Join the Unhurried Revolution!


www.mysoulrefresh.com

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Living Unhurried #67

 Vincent Van Gogh's "Noon: Rest From Work" (After Millet)
1889-90; Musée d'Orsay, Paris

"My soul finds rest in God alone

My salvation comes from Him..."

~Psalm 62:1

Rest does not "just happen" - our souls need to "find" it - that seems to indicate that it takes some unhurried and intentional effort to put ourselves in a place where true rest can open our heart, mind, soul, emotion and body to God's loving care. What we find is what we're longing for - our "at-home-ness" with ourselves in God's presence.

• How have you encountered God in the midst of restful moments this past week?
• What keeps you from rest?
• What do you need some "salvation" from - 

• From being overcommitted? 
• From being over loaded with junky foods?
• From not getting enough sleep?
• From compulsions that make you feel guilty if you care for yourself...?
• Financial difficulties from overspending?

How is God inviting you to find rest in Him this week?
How does that make you feel?
How do you want to intentionally respond?

Unhurry up - Join the Unhurried Revolution!

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Living Unhurried #66

Make someone glad they saw you today.

What might that look like? 

• Can you linger a few minutes longer to tell someone how proud you are of them?
• Can you pop by a friends with a bag of groceries or a Safeway gift card...
• Can you mow a neighbor's lawn?
• Ask the grocery store checker what has been a highlight of his/her day...
• Offer to take your single woman friend's car to get an oil change
• Smile, hug, and express your specific gratitude to each member of your present family

Yes - all these things take time...because LOVE and Hurry are incompatible...


Unhurry up - Join the Unhurried Revolution!

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Living Unhurried #65

Take one minute to write this little saying on a post-it note or 3x5 card and place it in frequented and noticeable vicinities: your car dashboard, bathroom mirror, on the inside of your front door, on your computer, or even as a pop up reminder on your iPhone or Google Calendar!

God joins us wherever we are

Just as we are

and only asks us 

To Be Who We Are 

~ Thomas Keating

 Wherever we are - not just physically like at the bank, or parallel parking, or enjoying a microbrew, or laughing at frolicking monkeys at the zoo or worshiping at church...God joins us "wherever" we are emotionally - in sorrow, sickness, health, joy, anger, high productivity or utter laziness. 

The harder question is: Am I free to be Who I Am with God in any location or emotion?

Perhaps each time you see your note this week, stop, take a deep breath, and acknowledge that God is with you - no matter where you are or how you feel. Share whatever feeling you have in the moment with Him. Ask Him to help you be (and become) who you really are as the object of His affection and attention. 

Join the Unhurried Revolution!

www.mysoulrefresh.com 

Living Unhurried #64

I love it when friends share "unhurried" nuggets that have blessed them. This just in from Tina...thanks friend...

A Blessing for One Who is Exhausted
by John O'Donohue


When the rhythm of the heart becomes hectic,
Time takes on the strain until it breaks;
Then all the unattended stress falls in
On the mind like an endless, increasing weight,

The light in the mind becomes dim.
Things you could take in your stride before
Now become laborsome events of will.

Weariness invades your spirit.
Gravity begins falling inside you,
Dragging down every bone.

The ride you never valued has gone out.
And you are marooned on unsure ground.
Something within you has closed down;
And you cannot push yourself back to life.

You have been forced to enter empty time.
The desire that drove you has relinquished.
There is nothing else to do now but rest
And patiently learn to receive the self
You have forsaken for the race of days.

At first your thinking will darken
And sadness take over like listless weather.
The flow of unwept tears will frighten you.

You have traveled too fast over false ground;
Now your soul has come to take you back.

Take refuge in your senses, open up
To all the small miracles you rushed through.

Become inclined to watch the way of rain
When it falls slow and free.

Imitate the habit of twilight,
Taking time to open the well of color
That fostered the brightness of day.

Draw alongside the silence of stone
Until its calmness can claim you.
Be excessively gentle with yourself.
Stay clear of those vexed in spirit.
Learn to linger around someone of ease
Who feels they have all the time in the world.

Gradually, you will return to yourself,
Having learned a new respect for your heart
And the joy that dwells far within slow time.

--John O'Donohue, from "To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings"
as posted on http://www.ijourney.org/index.php

Some gentle questions for reflection:

• What words or phrases or metaphors captured your attention either with longing or as conviction?
• Ask God to reveal to you how this connects to your current life circumstances.
• Read the poem again: the ask God, "what are you inviting me toward?"

May you be excessively gentle with yourself today!


Join the Unhurried Revolution!


www.mysoulrefresh.com

Living Unhurried #63 - National Holiday for Living Unhurriedites!

Tomorrow, June 19th, is a really important holiday for Living Unhurried - perhaps the national holiday for those of us Unhurriedites who are a part of the Unhurried revolution!

June 19th is World Sauntering Day. Ain't it grand?

The holiday started in 1970 as a publicity stunt for a luxury hotel in Michigan. But wouldn't it be great if we all celebrated life and loved ones with a day of sauntering - a leisurely, aimless stroll designed for enjoyment? And perhaps we can even throw in some lingering and frolic as well!

And did you know that slow walking actually has some really good health benefits? You can actually burn more calories walking slowly than at regular speed! What a great way to relieve stress on your joints and on your brain!

So go ahead - take a leisurely and attentive stroll through your neighborhood - notice your stressed out neighbors (give them a gentle smile and greeting), the wild shades and textures of nature and the horribly gaudy yard ornaments - walk slowly, breathe deeply, notice the way that air feels as it fills your lungs, or how lovely it is to hold the hand of a friend, child or lover!

So go on out, unhurry up, get your saunter on and be grateful for life!

What did you discover in your day of sauntering?

Join the Unhurried Revolution!

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Living Unhurried #62

Read Psalm 139:1-12 below then take 5 minutes to imagine Jesus "already there waiting" for you in your day.

A David Psalm

 ^1-6 God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand.
   I'm an open book to you;
      even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking.
   You know when I leave and when I get back;
      I'm never out of your sight.
   You know everything I'm going to say
      before I start the first sentence.
   I look behind me and you're there,
      then up ahead and you're there, too—
      your reassuring presence, coming and going.
   This is too much, too wonderful—
      I can't take it all in!

 ^7-12 Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit?
      to be out of your sight?
   If I climb to the sky, you're there!
      If I go underground, you're there!
   If I flew on morning's wings
      to the far western horizon,
   You'd find me in a minute—
      you're already there waiting!
   Then I said to myself, "Oh, he even sees me in the dark!
      At night I'm immersed in the light!"
   It's a fact: darkness isn't dark to you;
      night and day, darkness and light, they're all the same to you.
(From the Message - italics mine)

Take a few deep breaths. Now imagine for a few moments what is yet ahead in your day. It may be something you're looking forward to, or something you dread. If it's true that Jesus is already there waiting and that there's no place you can flee from His presence, then imagine yourself walking into the business meeting, coffee appointment, coming home "alone" or whatever scene rises to the top.

• As you imagine the scene, where do you see Jesus waiting for you? 
• Does he have any words for you? How does he respond to seeing you?
• How do you feel knowing that He is already there waiting?
• How do you want to respond to Him? 
• As you enter your day now, do you feel any differently about what's ahead? How might you keep your eyes pealed for Him throughout the day?

Join the Unhurried Revolution!

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Living Unhurried #61

Small Steps of Love
by Henri Nouwen
 
How can we choose love when we have experienced so little of it? We choose love by taking small steps of love every time there is an opportunity. A smile, a handshake, a word of encouragement, a phone call, a card, an embrace, a kind greeting, a gesture of support, a moment of attention, a helping hand, a present, a financial contribution, a visit ... all these are little steps toward love.

Each step is like a candle burning in the night. It does not take the darkness away, but it guides us through the darkness. When we look back after many small steps of love, we will discover that we have made a long and beautiful journey.

from Henri Nouwen's Online devotional June 15, 2010 http://tiny.cc/h1hwd

So share an unhurried smile, handshake, a helpful hand, a financial contribution, a phone call...and contribute a long, beautiful journey of light in a world of darkness!

Join the Unhurried Revolution!

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Living Unhurried #60

I heard this suggested as a transformation exercise at church last Sat night and thought it'd be a great "unhurried" exercise as well.

What is a Biblical Promise that resounds with your heart? Read or recite that promise before bedtime every night this week. And if you're really courageous, pray for an opportunity to share it with someone else. Be on the lookout!

Don't have one - try one of these (put your cursor over it to get the verse)

• Heb 13:5
• Rom 8: 1
• Rom 8:31-35; 38-39
• Deut 33:12

What's a promise you cling to?

Join the Unhurried Revolution!

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Living Unhurried #59

My nephews' and niece's father (not my brother who is married to their mom) died unexpectedly and tragically this past week. Sadly, none of them ever really got to say what they felt and there was unresolved issues left unreconciled. None of us know what today might bring, so please take 5-10 minutes today to dial up or sit across from a friend, a spouse, your kids, or someone you admire, or perhaps even someone with whom you are estranged, and tell them why they matter. Tell them what they add to your life. Tell them you're grateful. You will not regret such unhurried courage...

Join the Unhurried Revolution!

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Living Unhurried #58

Take 10 minutes at the end of your day to ponder (perhaps even journal) these three questions -

• What has surprised me? (about life, myself, God, others...)
• What has touched me? (where did I feel the greatest emotional connectiveness today?)
• What/Who has inspired me and how do I want to respond to this inspiration?

Find someone else to reflect on these questions with you - and then once a week take some unhurried moments to discuss these (mostly by listening) with your spouse, children, housemates, or friends. Help the one you're listening to to "overhear" what's going on even deeper in their hearts/lives.

Consider adding this to your "Gratitude Journal" every day for a week. What are you learning about yourself? God? Others?

Join the Unhurried Revolution!

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Living Unhurried #57

What can you do everyday to find health and happiness that costs you absolutely nothing?

Be grateful.

Research shows that grateful people, among other things, can boost their immune system, are more likely to attain personal goals, can be more empathetic, and place less importance on material goods and possessions.(http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/labs/emmons/)

By focusing on 3-5 things per day that you are grateful for (health, relationships, having a roof over your head etc.) can boost your health and enjoyment of life. To increase that even more, try sharing what you are grateful for with someone else.

The real challenge might be finding things to be grateful for when you are stuck in traffic or about ready to lose your job or are fighting an illness. In these moments, however, what we truly value seem to rise to the surface.

Today as you are driving home from work or doing errands, think of 3-5 things you are grateful for. Maybe even buy a little notepad to keep in your car to keep a record of gratitude. (naturally don't write it while you are driving - but maybe before you step out of the car to meet your family or friends). OR at the dinner table, share with one another what you are grateful for.

Feel free to leave a few of your thanksgivings in the comments ...

Join the Unhurried Revolution!

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Living Unhurried #56

How ironic - I got cut off in traffic by a guy whose bumper sticker says,

But in turning the phrase into a true Living Unhurried moment, what might you do today to practice unhurried kindness...

• let someone go ahead of you in line;
• hold the door for an entire group of senior citizens entering the store;
• help carry some groceries for your neighbor;
• pick up a bag of groceries for a friend who is struggling financially
• bring a flower to your bank teller;
• write a note of thanks to someone who has blessed you this week;
• complement a co-worker by sharing how they impact (positively) your life
• Smile at the person who just cut you off in traffic - maybe even pray peace for their life.

Keep your eyes pealed for "little" opportunities to impart blessing!

You get the idea - what did you do?

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Living Unhurried #55

Think faster is better?

If someone offered you a million dollars or a penny doubled every day for 31 days, which would you take?

A million would be nice, right?
But would you prefer over $1 billion? ($1,073,741,824 to be exact)

Sometimes the little changes and choices made every day to live more unhurriedly, more lovingly, more healthfully and alive to what is in front of you add up. So today, you needn't do something BIG to be unhurried - maybe a few deep breaths at the top of each hour saying "Thank you" to the One who has given you breath.

Revisit the Living Unhurried tips thus far...what one little thing might you do over the next few days that will multiply your ability to be fully present and enjoying the life God's given?

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Living Unhurried #54

"Blessed are the poor in spirit..."

Poor/poverty - not a word most of us like whether it is poor in spirit, pocketbook, health, aptitude, or love. When you hear this word, what does it connote? Not even the thesaurus is helpful - pauper, beggar, indigent, penniless, insufficient, inadequate, deficient. Yuck!

Blessed are the poor in spirit...for theirs is the kingdom of heaven...

I admit this verse does not inspire me. It does not make me feel blessed. I think, inherently, that poverty - whether it be vocational, relational, physical with our health, aptitude, spiritual or soulish poverty, I feel vulnerable and that's why I don't like it. Vulnerable, exposed, unprotected. So, like Adam and Eve, I sew fig leaves for myself...

There are two roads when facing an impoverished area of life:

1. Protect, defend and fend for ourselves
2. Let our poverty expose our deepest desires and need for Him...and in that vulnerability, trust.

So I suppose we can be defensive, or we can be intimate. Which way are you living today? Will you be courageous enough, unhurried enough, today to sit before the Lord and talk to Him about the areas of your life where you feel impoverished/vulnerable? Pay attention to how you would rather "defend" or "deny" or "overcome" this vulnerability more than take it to the Lord. What makes you afraid to talk to Him about it?

Close your time by reading Matthew 5:3-5 from the Message:

"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. 

With less of you there is more of God and His rule.

You're blessed when you feel you've lost what's dear to you.

Only then can you be embraced by the one most dear to you

You're blessed when you're content with just who you are - no more, no less

that's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that cannot be bought."

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Living Unhurried #53

Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and listen to this song, A little longer by Jenn Johnson



What strikes you about God's invitation? How do you want to respond to Him?

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Living Unhurried #52

Try to find a sunbeam to soak in today...

For five minutes, let your body be warmed by the sunshine. Breathe deeply and rest in His enveloping presence. Maybe even take a little nap. But if you do, remember to wipe off the drool before you go back to work or out on errands.

Enjoy the day and carry His Presence with you as you interact with others. To quote my friends Jim and Rich at Crosspoint ministries: The greatest ministry you can have is bearing your presence from having been with God, to others.

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Living Unhurried #51

Mid-morning: Take a 10 minute break where you can saunter or find some quiet space (perhaps even while you're driving - turn the radio off). Pay attention to your soul and ask yourself: "How am I really feeling? Lighthearted? Heavy-hearted? At peace? Distracted? Worried? Angry? Afraid? Hopeful? Numb?"

Then acknowledge how you really are before the Lord - it is the real you (not who you think you need to be) that He loves.

Let yourself be embraced by His Love - 

• receive His lack of condemnation (Rom 8:1) ; 
• let yourself experience how you feel with God being for you and not against you (Rom 8:31); 
• thank Him that your feelings cannot separate you from His love (Rom 8: 35, 38-39).

Continue to find spaces in your day to offer Him how you really feel...you may even ask Him, "Lord, what is at the root of these feelings? What am I afraid of? What is the compulsion behind my weariness?" etc

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Living Unhurried #50

Picture of John, the Beloved, at Mt. Angel Abbey

John was known as the beloved disciple. It wasn't a phrase others called him. It is how he referred to himself...the disciple Jesus loved...(John 13.23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7; 21:20). He experienced a deep affection from Jesus that impacted his core identity - how he saw himself. It also was so essential to him that his heart message to the world is about Love: Loving God and loving others (read 1 John - love is mentioned over 30 times in this one short letter).

Today, as you transition between tasks, or driving between places, take a few deep breaths and repeat one of these phrases:

• "Abba, I belong to You."
• "Papa, I am your beloved."

Listen to any internal resistance, excuses or "yeah, but's" If there are any, repeat this verse: "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom 8:1) and I am in Him and beloved by Him.

At the end of the day reflect back on how this impacted your attitudes and actions throughout the day. What did God reveal to you about Himself? Yourself?

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Living Unhurried #49

Take this advice found on a poster in Powell's Bookstore, Portland Oregon!

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Living Unhurried #48

"On the day of Judgment, God will only ask one question: Did you enjoy my world?"

Traditional Jewish Saying

As you get to the end of your day, reflect back on how you enjoyed your day? 

• What parts of your day made you feel fully alive? 
• What parts seemed to drag you down? 
• Are you too busy to enjoy the beauty of spring? Or your family? or a leisurely home cooked meal? 
• What might help you enjoy tomorrow?

Lord, I want to enjoy life 

rather than skim it.

I want to behold Your beauty - 

experience the complete joy You lavish.

Help me walk tomorrow with an attitude that life is a gift

One to be opened, delighted in, enjoyed.

Help me to see each task, each person, each obstacle

as Your invitation to trust You, enjoy You, love You.

I need You - fill me with a desire to enjoy 

each breath

each flower

even each person who cuts me off in traffic;

each moment of inspiration,

each dreary, seemingly mundane task.

Oh Lord, establish the work of your hands...

In Your presence is fullness of joy.

Amen

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Living Unhurried #47

Take 10 minutes before leaving work/starting dinner and linger with this website, letting it guide you in prayer - http://sacredspace.ie/

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Living Unhurried #46

"Consider the birds of the air, the flowers of the field" (Matthew 6: 25-34)

So often Jesus refers to common everyday things for us to "consider" - to pay attention to. In these simple acts of awareness, God often reveals something of Himself to us. And often, as in the case of Him asking us to consider the birds of the air and flowers of the field, He reveals something to us about us (in this case our tendency to worry about food, clothes and missing out in life.)

Take 5 minutes today to stop and listen to and/or watch the birds. Or stop to smell your favorite budding spring blossom. Ask the Lord: "What do you want to reveal to me about yourself? About myself?" Let Him, in this unhurried moment, invite you further into His transforming love.

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Living Unhurried #45

Author Anne Lamott writes about our true wealth:

"...there is nothing you can buy, achieve, own, or rent that can fill  
up that hunger inside for a sense of fulfillment and wonder. But the  
good news is that creative expression, whether that means writing,  
dancing, bird-watching, or cooking, can give a person almost  
everything that he or she has been searching for: enlivenment, peace,  
meaning, and the incalculable wealth of time spent quietly in beauty.

"...the bad news: You have to make time to do this... What  
manic or compulsive hours will [you] give up in trade for the  
equivalent time to write, or meander? Time is not free - that's why  
it's so precious and worth fighting for.

"I think it [fighting for time to really live life] is going to hurt. What fills us is real, sweet, dopey,funny life. I've heard it said that every day you need half an hour of quiet time for yourself...unless you are incredibly busy and stressed, in which case you need an hour. I promise you, it is there. Fight tooth and nail to find time, to make it. It is our true wealth, this moment, this hour, this day."

See the whole article in the April 2010 Sunset magazine here

• In what ways are you trying to "buy, achieve, own or rent" things in order to fulfill your life?
• What time will you fight for this week?
• What might you give up for a half an hour/day of quiet time for yourself?

Remember when you say "no" to something, you are creating space for something/someone better.

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Living Unhurried #44

If we let ourselves marinate in our restlessness and dissatisfaction - if we slow long enough to pay attention to the deeper cries of our souls - we often discover a beautiful longing for a deeper, more intimate, fierce and free life. This longing is the best thing about us - calling us to live embracing all of life rather than just skimming the surface of it.

Throughout the day, pay attention to the ways you are restless - in vocation, relationships, with an aspect of your spirituality and soul. Maybe keep a list.

Then sometime tonight, create some quiet space - perhaps light a candle, take a few breaths, revisit what is restless in you  - then ask God to reveal what is the deeper longing beneath the dissatisfaction. Try to "listen" to how he is wooing you to deeper intimacy with Him.

• How is He inviting you to live in relationship with Him that will transform how you interact with the world? 
• What is He revealing to you about Himself? 
• What is He revealing to you about you?

Can you put your longing into words? Or capture it with a word picture/metaphor?

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Living Unhurried #43

"Does your spirituality seem to make your life feel smaller 

rather than making it feel larger?" 

Jeff Imbach, The River Within

Take 10 minutes today and write out a list of how your life is larger, or how you want it to be larger, because of your spirituality. What would it look/feel like to live into these longings? Or, if it feels smaller, pay attention to how you feel about it being smaller. What do those feelings actually reveal?

Hold your heart for a larger life in silence to God's heart for a minute and maybe look at your list daily to remind your heart of it's desire to live life wide open.

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Living Unhurried #42

 "When Jesus peeks in and says 'hi' - examines our 'usness,'

really looks it over, and says, 'I love you' 

then I have real-life...

[my life is reflected in another's eyes].

When he loves us we begin to exist as persons, not things

[i.e. nor merely for our accomplishments, possessions, or who we know.]"

~Brennan Manning in Souvenirs of Solitude [bracketed words added by me]

How might you let God peek into your life and say, "Hi" today?

• Imagine him coming to your cubicle, your kitchen sink, popping out at the drive thru window, walking with you to your car... how does having him notice you as you really are encourage your heart?

• Take a few moments to pop into someone else's life and say "hi" and let them know you love them just as they are - send a text, a phone call, a letter - for it is when our "usness" is reflected "in the glow of someone else's eyes," says Brennan, that we realize our effective essence.

• How does being "noticed" by God or others make you feel?

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Living Unhurried #41

Esther DeWaal, in her book Lost in Wonder writes: "...[find] something that catches your attention and translate it into an image which tells me more about itself and more about my own self, my reaction, my relation to it" (30).

She suggests using the rhythm of a traditional Japanese tanka poem: 5 unrhymed lines -  the syllable counts per line are 5, 7, 5, 7, 7

The sun peeks gently
Alluring blossoms to rise
Alluring my heart
Awakening my great hope
Stirring desire for oneness

The soft morning hues
Gently rouse me to embrace
while I deeply breathe
Wanting to hold this moment
Lingering in the mercies



You get the idea...

She continues, "Having a set form to hand is like having a net, a framework, in which to trap words...and to catch that momentary glimpse, the hint, the elusive moment of beauty or mystery or pain or amusement" (30).

Over the weekend, use the 5,7,5,7,7 rhythm to try and capture the moment in a net. As you ponder what has come forth, ask God, "What are you revealing to me about me? About yourself?"

Please share your creations!

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Living Unhurried #40

"The present moment, like the spotted owl or the sea turtle, 

has become an endangered species."

~Philip Simmons in Learning to Fall, Blessings of an Imperfect Life

Take 5 minutes today in the late afternoon - before you transition from work back to home or perhaps a fe moments before making dinner. In these five minutes, pay attention to the present moment - start by taking a few deep breaths, then close your eyes and use your ears and nose to pay attention (perhaps even invite others around you to join in this exercise. This could be fun for kids too, just ask them to answer inside their own hearts, then you can share about it afterwards:

• Who is around you? 
• What are the the sounds, the smells? Do you like them or dislike them? What do they remind you of?
• How do you feel right now? 
• Ask God to tend to you here now as you sit in stillness, attentive to this present moment. 
• Ask Him, "What manna have you given me today, for today, that I must fold into the rest of this day?"

Breathe deeply and ask for His peace to continue to shine on you as you attend to the relationships and work you have left in the day.

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Living Unhurried #39

Set an alarm to go off every three hours (i.e. 9, noon, 3, 6, 9pm) - stop for 5 minutes, breathe deeply and ask the Lord, "Who may I tend to in prayer?"
Lift whoever comes to mind up by name into the Lord's presence.

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Living Unhurried #38

 
I love this website, www.pray-as-you-go.org with guided reflections/meditations on Scripture. Really cool bells, and music and reflections facilitated by people with really cool accents!

So take a 13 minute break today and listen to today's Pray-As-You-Go - http://www.pray-as-you-go.org/mp3/PAYG_100503.mp3
Consider downloading the week to your iPod or mp3 player for the week and set aside 15 minutes to let your soul reflect/rest in His love each day.

How do you need God to be Your way? Show you the way?

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Living Unhurried #37

Listen to this BBC debate on Sabbath.
What strikes you - what might you want to do/not do to capture the commodity of time in your relationships this week?



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