Deep Breathing for the Soul

I’m writing a book on the Old Testament–a bible reference-y sort of thing. I put 100 words from the text under the microscope, one at a time, to see what they meant then, what they mean now, what the Hebrew context was, why it matters to us today.

I knew this already, but this project is driving it home–the Old Testament fairly shines with God’s deep concern for the disenfranchised, the poor. The phrase “orphans, widows and the fatherless” rings through the historical books, the poetry and the prophets. Often, another group mentioned with this triad is “the alien” or “foreigner.” Always, the bible counsels mercy and compassion toward these people groups.

The Bible has a lot to say about how we treat foreigners. So I was eager to go to church last night to hear a discussion about immigration.

Matt Soerens, of World Relief, and author of Welcoming the Stranger, was there to be interviewed by Bill Hybels and Heather Larson, Willow’s director of compassion ministries.

It’s a loaded issue, one that polarizes our society and has potential to polarize our church. I appreciated Bill’s reminder that we have tackled thorny issues before: women in leadership, the AIDS crisis, racial reconciliation, global poverty, and so on. Willow is bold to ask the questions about what it means to bring the kingdom on earth.

Willow has not landed on a position, but is asking our congregation to think about what it means to love your neighbor, and to become more educated about the issue of immigration.

I was so proud of my church. while other churches might ignore controversy, my church says, the fastest-growing ministry in our church is one that serves some brothers and sisters who may happen to be undocumented, so we need to take a look at this issue. there are no easy answers, but I’m glad to be a part of a church that is asking the questions.

I’d love to have you watch the discussion our church had last night. You can see and here it by clicking here.

I can be a very task-oriented person. I love words, facts, ideas. As a result, I’m a good communicator, a strong writer. But because of those strengths, I can end up, if I’m not careful, lonely, isolated.

This summer I have two huge writing projects on my desk. And I’m working away on them (which is one reason why you haven’t seen much from me on this blog lately). But I try to take time in each day for some face time (not just Facebook) with friends, my kids and husband. I need to connect with real people in my real life, to talk, to listen, to do things together.

So I took my kids to the city to go out to breakfast and then to visit Willow’s Chicago campus. I went bike riding with friends, had lunch with another friend. We were created for community, and while I value the on-line community I find on certain blogs and Facebook, we all need actual face to face connection with other people.

How do you connect with others? How do you find friends?

Next week, I’ll meet with a writer’s group I recently joined. I actually sort of begged to get in, knowing I need other writers to talk to–people who assure me I’m not so strange. We chat via email a lot, sharing updates about our writing and careers, sharing links to stuff we’ve published online, and so on. While that’s fun, it’s not as deep as what gets shared when we gather in someone’s living room after the kids are in bed and talk about the challenges and joys of our writing journey.

We were all made for community. If we are seeking to follow Christ, we need others who can encourage us on that journey. We were never made to go it alone, especially spiritually.  What I want to know is–where do you find community and connection? If that’s missing from your life, what’s one step you could take to seek it out?

Tags: community, sharing, writing

Today I’m welcoming my friend Tracey Bianchi, author and pastor and awesome mom of three, as my guest blogger. I’m thrilled to be included in the blog tour for her new book, Green Mama: The Guilt Free Guide to Helping You and Your Kids Save the Planet. Going green doesn’t have to be difficult or complicated. In many ways, as Tracey points out, green living is simple living. And simplicity is a practice of spiritual formation. Please leave some comments for Tracey here or on Facebook, and visit her blog at www.traceybianchi.com

Living a Sustainable Faith

by Tracey Bianchi

My four-year old has endless questions about traffic these days. Why do cars stop or go? What about caution signs? Why do we either slam on the brakes or go crazy fast at yellow? What is rush hour? The one signal he has no query about is green.

“Green means go, go, go!”

He often hollers this as if our trip to Target was tantamount to the Indy 500.

Green means go. Whether traffic signals or that childhood game, Red Light/Green Light. Green is associated with movement, activity, permission to get on with it. Even our money is green and with the right amount of that hue you can sprint off to just about anywhere.

But can green ever signal slowing down our lives?

With the burgeoning green trend in our culture, the one connected to eco-friendly, save the planet chatter, living into this new shade of green might offer us more than new products and ideas. At the heart of this movement is an opportunity for spiritual transformation and a deeper connection to God.

Perhaps you simply think about recycling when you hear the words green living. You may also associate the trend with a new “to do” list that now includes organic gardening and composting. Many families I know find eco-ideas incredibly guilt-provoking and stressful. The pressure feels like anything but a spiritually refreshing opportunity.

However, an honest, greener faith is actually about embracing simplicity. Overhauling our lifestyles so that we can pursue healthy families, build deeper communities, and enjoy God’s planet. It is about slowing down to see what is truly most important by tapping into God’s Creation and his rhythms.

To “go green” is to reflect wisely on what we buy, how we shop, where we drive, and how we move through life. Which is to say, going green is also slowing down and taking in all that God has presented us each day. From sunrise to sunset.

For people of faith, caring for God’s Creation is an opportunity to stop chasing after the chaos, the narcissistic ideals, the over-commercialized culture that glistens all around us. “Going green” provides long overdue opportunities pull off this grid, to soak in the sunshine, rest in the grass, watch those clouds take dinosaur shapes like we did as children.

So, what does a slower, greener life look like?

A greener afternoon might be one where you or your family walk to your destinations rather than drive. Take your time, talk as you saunter along and save on your CO2 emissions in the process. Green might mean staying out of the malls and playing at home. Curbing our consumption is one of the most planet friendly maneuvers we can make. Buy less, shop less, stick together at home more.

Plant a tree, spend the day at a park or take a hike. All less anxiety producing than jockeying for position on three traveling teams in one afternoon.

Get your hands muddy or let your children get dirty. Help them to fall in love with God’s Creation, with the mud and the muck, the dirt of the earth. Live into the Genesis narrative by enjoying all that God says is good. Muddy faces and skinned knees indicate time well spent. Enjoy moments in the trees rather than in classes, traffic, or the over-achieving lane.

So take another look at “going green” and in it you might find a deeper invitation to slow down a bit and breathe deeply of God’s green life. A creative invitation to rest, renewal and transformation in God’s Creation.

Tracey Bianchi is the author of “Green Mama: The Guilt Free Guide to Helping You and Your Kids Save the Planet.” She is the mother of three and an author, speaker, and women’s ministry director. You can find more of her musings on life, faith and sustainability at http://traceybianchi.com. You can find her new book here: http://tinyurl.com/3xzvpnx

Can I just say how much I enjoy summer? I’m writing on my laptop with the windows open to the evening chorus of songbirds. It’s warm but not so hot we need the air conditioning.

On my way home from work around 3 p.m., I drove past my friend Sharon’s house and saw her sitting on her front porch. I pulled in and sat and chatted with her for an hour–during which another neighbor, Kathy, came by and also joined us. This kind of thing simply can’t happen in the winter in Chicago.

Now, I had things to get done at home. But I wanted to connect with Sharon, and it was a gorgeous summer day. We just sat and caught up on life, our kids. We discussed things both trivial and deep. I just enjoy spending time with her. So without much effort, I chose to spend part of my day connecting with someone who brings me joy and laughter. I got to hear about the fun things going on in her life, and the challenges her family is facing. I know how to pray for her better after our conversation, and she offered some wisdom about some things going on in my life.

It feeds my soul to sit on a front step and talk with a friend. We often think soul care consists in studying the Bible or long times of solitude—which can be very helpful. But Jesus said the most important thing is to love God and love your neighbor. How can you love your neighbors if you don’t really take some time to know what’s going on in their lives? and when you are loved on by your neighbors, that feeds your soul as well.

I’m lucky to live in this neighborhood, and to have lived here for 17 years. Sharon and I have sons the same age, we were at their 8th grade graduation two days ago. We volunteered in their kindergarden class together, and now they are going to high school. Long term friendships like that are no small gift, and its important to nurture them.

This summer, I have a lot of work on my plate–book projects, my part-time job, stuff at home and with my kids. But I want to slow down enough to enjoy the amazing women God has put in my life. I want to be a friend who has time to stop and visit, to find the joy in the everyday.  To slow down enough to let summer and it’s spontaneous joys feed my soul.

Tags: Add new tag, connect, family, friendship, joy, love, neighborhood, neighbors, slowing, summer

When I talk with women about the possibility of practicing Sabbath, they often tell me they already feel like they are always behind, that they cannot catch up to their endless to-do list. If they took a day off, they fear, they’d simply fall further behind.

They’re afraid they would feel each week what most of us feel like today, because of the three-day holiday weekend: panicky when we realize that although today feels like Monday, it’s actually Tuesday.

But here’s the thing: when you spend Sunday actually resting, it gives you more energy for the week ahead. I find I get more done on Mondays (or on this week, Tuesday) than any other day. I enjoy my work, so I love that the Sabbath rhythm is not one only of taking time to rest, but also, working hard for six days a week. There is a joy in productivity. And a regular habit of Sabbath actually trains me to stay focused during the week, to get things done so that I’ll be able to enjoy a day of rest.

So the question I have for you is, was your holiday weekend actually restful? Was it a short vacation, or was it simply frenzy as usual? Was your holiday a “holy day”?

We spent the holiday weekend with Scot’s family at his parent’s lake home.  Even though two of his siblings were not there, there were still ten people, ages 5 to 80, together 24-7 for three days. It’s not exactly relaxing, especially for an introvert like me. I love Scot’s family but it just requires a lot of emotional energy for me to be with a lot of people constantly, no matter how much you love them.

Memorial Day weekend up at the lake is always a “spring work weekend” spent heaving boat lifts into the water, unpacking all the toys and equipment stored in the boat house, making repairs after the winter. My kids spent part of Saturday digging a trench in the yard so their grandfather could run a new electrical line from the garage to the boathouse.

We also had time to relax. My sister-in-law and I collaborated on some yummy meals (grilled veggies, chicken and fish one night, grilled hamburgers the next–are you picking up on a theme here?). The weather was hot so the kids swam in the lake with their cousins. My son remembered how to do a flip on the trampoline. My daughter crewed for her cousin on his X-boat. We came home tired, a little sunburned in spots, a little sore from the heavy lifting. I., for one, am craving solitude.

For many of you, this is the last week of school for the kids, or close to it. My son will graduate from 8th grade next Monday. My daughter has final exams next week. It’s a busy time of year. And this week, shortened by the holiday, will fly.

So maybe your holiday weekend, like mine, didn’t feel very Sabbath-y. Decide right now to stop, to take a deep breath, to slow down your whirring mind, even as you face the Goliath of your t0-do list. Ask God for help in doing the weekends of the coming summer differently.

The beauty of Sabbath is that every week, you get another chance to try it. To tweak it. And you can adjust your week. Make it a goal to say “no” to three things this week. Plan next Sunday to actually spend some time doing very little. Decide right now to slow down the pace of your summer weekends so that you can breathe and rest–and so that your weekday will be joyfully productive.

As we listened to a message on Sabbath keeping a couple of weeks ago, my friend leaned over and whispered in my ear, “do you cook on Sabbath?”

It should be noted that I love to cook, while this friend does not.

So I whispered back, “Sometimes.”

The only thing we outlaw completely in our Sabbath practice is legalism. Often, we eat leftovers, or canned soup and sandwiches. But today, I planted herbs in the garden. and then, unexpectedly, my husband brought home sweet corn on the cob from the grocery store. It’s not corn season locally here in northern Illinois, that corn is likely from Florida or even Mexico. I worried about its quality, which could be compromised by its long journey from field to our table.

But fresh herbs cover a multitude of sins, so I thought my garden herbs might be able to rescue it. since I’d planned grilled chicken, I Googled grilled corn. I made an herb butter from the newly planted basil, my perennial thyme and parsley.

My family loved the simple dinner–grilled chicken, grilled corn with herb butter, rice and green beans. For me, cooking is a love language. when I can serve up something delicious, it is a way of showing love, a way of bringing joy to our table. When the weather turns warm, I seem to warm up to cooking. I stow the crock pot, fire up the grill, visit the garden and feel joy. When my kids say “Great dinner, mom,” I feel God’s’ smile.

Sabbath is a day to put aside the shoulds, the “ought to’s” and obligations. It is a day to connect with your family–in the garden or around the table. So should you cook on Sabbath? If it genuinely brings you joy and draws you closer to the heart of God. If it doesn’t, throw in a frozen pizza or open a box of cereal, and enjoy time with your family. Sabbath is about unhurried community, about joy. it is about refusing to feel guilt. If cooking brings that kind of freedom and joy to your life, then cook on Sabbath. But if cooking stresses you out and feels like drudgery or joyless work, then don’t do it. enjoy your freedom from cooking on this day. I think that’s what Jesus was talking about when he said the Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath.

Your thoughts?

also, here’s the corn recipe:

Take corn, carefully peel back husks, keeping them attached to the cob. Remove silk. Smooth husks back in place.

soak corn in cold water with a tablespoon or two of sugar for 15 minutes, then drain.

Grill corn in husks about 3 to 5 minutes per side.

Carefully pull back husks, grill corn until slightly charred, 5 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally.

slather with butter mixed with minced herbs and lime juice.

Tags: allowed on Sabbath, cooking, family, family dinner, joy, kids, recipe, sabbath

I’m not a fan of store-bought flowers, even florist-bought flowers. But I love having flowers in the house. I’m also not a big fan of Mother’s Day–or I should say, I’m not keen on the pressure we put on the day to be more terrific than any day is capable of being. My prayer that morning was “Lord, help me keep my expectations low.”

That may sound cynical–but that’s not my heart. Maybe if I sugar-coated it, I’d pray, Help me not to buy into the hype the world puts on this day. this is my 16th Mother’s Day as a mom. My family gives it their best effort.  I knew my husband would be furiously scribbling a card even as the kids hand me theirs. I knew my husband wanted to cook for me, even though it took him several hours to make dinner–I appreciated his efforts, if only for the fact that they made him appreciate my daily ability to get dinner on the table. But I think we put too much pressure on this day to be more perfect than it possibly can be. So I vowed to take the day as it came and find joy in it.

My family knows I prefer nice words, inscribed on homemade cards. (which I received this year, with great joy). Don’t get me flowers–I’d rather gather those myself. This time of year, there are plenty of flowers coming up in my garden–perennials I planted years ago, which return every May to delight me and remind me that life is always renewing itself, that God’s mercies are new every morning.

So on Mother’s Day morning, I wandered out to the garden, to shop in God’s free store for myself. Most of what’s blooming was small and close to the ground. Forget me nots, for example. Their finger-tip sized blossoms, intricate designs of periwinkle with a yellow center which can only be seen if you are inches away, often hide behind other plants (okay, weeds). Finding them is a delight.

I also noticed that Lily of the Valley was blooming. The narcissus were almost done, but I found two that were still in good shape. I added some fern frods–I have so many ferns in my perennial bed I’m tearing them out. They were choking the bellflowers. Here’s the bouquet I created from what was blooming in my yard–all perennials that come back each year. I far exceeded my own expectations, and found joy. If you didn’t get flowers this Mother’s Day, allow me to share mine with you.

Tags: flowers, gardening, joy, mother's day

My friend Linda Bryant has a great little blog that you should check out. I got to do a guest post last week, so stop by and check it out, but read her other stuff, all on the topic of finding joy in the midst of life’s changes. Really good stuff.

Tags: change, joy, kids, sabbath, transition

I’m guest blogging about Sabbath and its role in spiritual formation all over the place this week. It’s been fun to connect with other writers and bloggers and create some new content.

If you’re interested in using any of the articles, say in a newsletter or a church website, just leave me a comment or use the contact form to get in touch. I’m happy to grant permission for use as long as you give attribution.

Here are a few sites that are running some articles I’ve written this week:

Spiritual disciplines for writers

What Moms really want for Mother’s Day

Sailing and Sabbath

What Jesus said about Sabbath

10 Steps to Sabbath Rest

Please visit these blogs and leave a comment or question–the bloggers will appreciate it. And stop back here and tell me which article you enjoyed or which blog you want to start reading regularly!

Tags: chip macgregor, community, creation care, download free, free articles, free content, freedom, mother's day, newsletter articles, rest, sabbath, sabbath simplicity, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation

Earth Day seems to have morphed into Earth Month, hasn’t it? Well, as Earth Month draws to a close, I written a new article on how spending time in creation can draw us close to the heart of God, and give us some space to enjoy Sabbath rest. My friend Tracey Bianchi, (author of Green Mama: the Guilt-Free guide to helping you and your kids save the planet) has posted my article on her blog. So click on over and read it, leave a comment and tell a friend!!

Tags: creation care, earth, environment, family sabbath, sabbath