Special Special Special!!!

What I do. part II or Making the Bed

If there is one thing I thought I would never do all my life, it is making my bed. 

For 21 years I have been completely averse to the idea and have thought it was pointless.  It just gets messy again 17 hours later, right?  So what is the point?!  (Besides, my room is usually so messy that making the bed doesn’t really matter anyway.)

But, I am here to prove and confess that miracles do happen.  For the past two weeks now, I have faithfully made my bed every morning.  Sometimes joyfully, sometimes begrudgingly, but regardless it gets made and somehow the world is better for it.

So, you may ask – what stimulated this radical morning ritual?  Did I finally succumb to the twisted wisdom of so many moms across the world?  Did I lose a bet? Am I really that bored after graduation?  Or do I need counseling?

By no means! I have voluntarily, in a sound state of mind, adopted this discipline.  And yes, I consider it a spiritual discipline.

It all started two weeks ago when I realized that the thinking, “I shouldn’t clean _____ (insert bed, car, apartment, self) if it is just going to be dirty again.  What would be the point?” is terribly flawed and detrimental.  I think it was at a point where I had gone a couple of days without bathing and I don’t even remember the last time I washed my car. 

I had been having trouble with that line of thinking for a while and it all came to a head when I realized that such thinking (not cleaning something because it will just get dirty again) is about as theologically unsound as it gets. 

I believe in and worship a God who continually renews and cleans me and the whole world.  A God who went to drastic measures to cleanse humanity that He knew would spit on Him, deny Him, and reject Him over and over again.  A God who I know grants forgiveness when I fall on my knees every night, over and over again, begging for it.  A God of both justifying grace (His once for all redemptive, salvific sacrifice) and sustaining (or continual) grace.

So, what does making my bed have to do with all that?  Making my bed has not and will not become a good habit for me – simply doing something that some people for some reason think is nice.  Making my bed is a spiritual discipline I engage with intentionally in the attempt to unite my thinking and acting and feeling and being to God’s.  It reminds me of and illustrates for me a continual renewal that I see is characteristic of the heart of God.

Just take the book of Judges for example.  Over and over throughout the whole thing we see the people neglecting and forsaking God, and He does everything He can to bring them back - through enemies, judges, divine intervention.  The cycle repeats and repeats through many generations.  Even though they are not naturally a faithful people, God still reaches out to scrub the dirt off their feet over and over again. 

Not to mention Jesus bending over to wash Judas’ feet hours before his betrayal.

I don’t completely know why this is a characteristic of God’s, but my hope is that my small token of making my bed will not only remind me of it, but also help me truly connect with this divine activity in and around me.  It is a discipline that while simple on the outside, has deep and significant spiritual, mystical value.

Plus, my room looks so much nicer now.

What I do. part I or Sunset Sabbath

It is Lent – the Christian season of death, sacrifice, giving up, preparation (for Easter).  What this means practically for most Christian who adhere to traditions tied to Lent is that it is a process of denying something or fasting.

Fasting does not necessarily have a great connotation, because we (especially Americans) like to eat.  We naturally do not like to be disciplined (take any young child for an example) and fasting by nature is a discipline, no matter what you give up – food or not.

So, in a broader sense, Lent is a time in the lives of Christians where we are presented most vividly the importance of practicing discipline.  Although all of life for a Christian has some connection to discipline, Lent is a time where we see how bad (infrequent/half-hearted/unmotivated) we are at pursuing discipline and get a chance to renew our efforts.

And in particular, spiritual discipline – practices established in life for a particular higher purpose.

So, I thought I would share in the next two weeks two unusual spiritual disciplines I have put to practice in my life recently.  I am constantly on the lookout for disciplines that are interesting and not run-of-the-mill.  To be sure, there is nothing better than tried and true prayer, Bible reading, fasting, tithing, worship, etc., but there is something enlivening in a unique expression of such disciplines that really connects with God’s rhythm in and around your life.

I have found that these disciplines arise naturally in my life, but also push me to experience God in new, profound ways.  A comfort and a challenge.

So, the first spiritual discipline is Sunset Sabbath.

Sabbath is rest.  It was traditionally a day set aside every week where Jews would do no work.  In fact, it is a commandment.  Exodus 20:8-11 explains this practice and its reasoning, “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.  Six days you shall labor and do all your work.  But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God; you shall not do any work – you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns.  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blesses the Sabbath day and consecrated it.”

Unfortunately, in our busy, constantly moving world, rest is often looked down on.  Many people no longer need to rest.  And modern technology allows us to do that – we can stay up all night, we can be complete work-a-holics.  And the demands of our lives often drive us to do that.  Not only are we too busy all day, we are too busy all week, putting in 17 hour days, 7 days a week.

Even the secular world is beginning to understand the importance of rest.  In the March 2010 issue of Wired, Brendan Koerner wrote an article in defense of facebook/twitter use in the workplace saying, “Humans weren’t designed to maintain a constant focus on assigned tasks.  We need periodic breaks to relieve our conscious minds of the pressure to perform (16).”  He explains how this ‘incubation’ can spur greater creativity.  If taking a break to muse on other random information can be helpful, I just wonder how much better mental/physical/emotional breaks can be when the focus of that time is turned to God.

In our prevalent busyness, can we find the time to focus on God?  Can we find the time to rest?

Even religious people are not exempt from this.  We can fill our schedules just as easily and fully with a plethora of religious work.  Even an accumulation of spiritual disciplines.  In fact, religious people are often among the most overworked.

Is it even important to rest?

The idea of a Sunset Sabbath is to take a set time out of the day everyday to rest.  I have found the time of sunset to be best, as it is in harmony with nature and provides a perfect timing.  It usually comes right before dinner (or right after if you are an early eater) and lasts around 30 minutes.  Not to mention it is absolutely beautiful.  This means that (almost) every day I go outside and watch the sunset for about 15-30 minutes.  The actual time varies according to daylight savings, but I always know when to go based on the great timekeeper of the sky.

That means that I usually have to drop whatever I am doing and just go watch the sunset (in fact I had to suddenly stop writing this just now to go do that – no joke!), but there is something really freeing in knowing that spending time in devotion to God is far more important than anything else I could be doing at this moment. 

It is a daily reminder that God is in ultimate control, that He cares for us and His world, and that there is nothing I can do to keep Him from lavishing His love on all creation.

Is Sabbath just about turning off, or going into standby mode?  Or just distracting our attention with something else to do?

I have found it is usually best to find the highest structure you can and Sabbath from the top.  A better view of the sunset and less people traffic helps to block out many distractions.  And there is no excuse for not doing this in nice weather.  If it is cold, windows work well to see out of.  I have run into the reality that there is not always a definite sunset – due to clouds mostly.  But even that time can be a good time to reflect.  Life is always beautiful, but not always pretty and sometimes a cloudy evening helps capture the mood better anyway.

How much rest do we need?  Is the rest we get really restful?

One great benefit I have found in sunset Sabbath is that it helps connect me to the rhythm of nature.  God created a world with natural seasons, months, and days as markers of the passing of time.  Our natural rhythm is disturbed by constant busyness or constant sloth.  But the sunset is nature’s transition time and a time I have found the world very much at peace. 

I think there is still a lot of value in weekly Sabbath, and I try very hard to rest one day a week, but I think it may be even more important to find ways to remind ourselves of our relationship to God throughout the day.  It may be even more true to the heart of the commandment to do whatever it is that connects us with the restful nature of God and experience His presence more fully, more regularly.  It is important to really stop and give attention and focus to God – to retune to God’s station.  That’s what sunset Sabbath has done for me.

It is tempting to stare right into the sun at this time, I would suggest not doing that – you may not see too many more sunsets.  But, in upping my ‘cheese’ factor tremendously, I would suggest this time is best used by staring directly into the Son.  And truly getting lost in Him.  Listen, sing, smell, see, feel, pray.  Rest.  And in all this, find God at the center.

P.S. I have often tried to take pictures of the sunset, but they never come out anywhere close to what I see.  Maybe that is because there are more colors in the sky than the makers of my camera ever imagined.  

Learning

I currently spend some of my time tutoring middle school students in Dallas ISD.  Even in the short time I have been doing this, it has been incredibly rewarding.  Going back to middle school when you are in your 20s is much more pleasant than it was the first time around.

The tutoring that I do involves me attending the entire class and helping any students who have questions about the material, especially when they start to work on some activity.  In order to do this, however, the teacher must have a lesson planned or there has to be at least some amount of in class work.  I have had work cancelled 3 times already in the 2 weeks I have been doing this because the classes were all testing all day. 

I understand that it is ‘testing season’ in Texas – students getting ready for and taking the TAKS test.  But I would argue that testing season, for all practical purposes now extends from August to May. 

I know that the almighty standardized test has a lot of controversy attached to it (the reality that teachers must teach to the test and have no room for other important lessons).  But even just allowing that to serve as a microcosm of the state of education, I feel there is a deeper problem of which standardized tests are only a symptom.

We live in a world that is constantly pushing and being pushed forward.  And we live in a world that admires the results of such progress.  We want to see students becoming the best insert occupation here they can be as soon as they can be it.  Our schools are pressing us to specialize in something earlier and earlier.  Degree counselors urge incoming college freshmen to declare a major as soon as they apply.  High schools offer classes to give students a head start on that major of choice that they should probably know by junior or senior year anyway.  There are even middle school and high school ‘magnet’ programs that offer a specialized education (math and sciences, technology, arts, even beauty and cosmetology).  These are not bad programs and often offer a lot to the students who attend.  But is it the best?  Is there anything missing?

The arts provides a perfect example.  I speak lightly on the subject because I have only been peripherally involved in education in the arts through high school and college.  But, let’s say you are an aspiring photographer as a middle schooler.  Your parents notice your adept skill at taking pictures of yourself in the mirror to post on Facebook (you can even do it without showing a horrendous flash blur), and being artists themselves want to encourage and foster your God given talent.  So, they do all they can to get you enrolled in the local arts magnet, and although you were initially on the waiting list, you get in at the last moment.  You take some of the normal high school classes, but you also start learning about the technical aspects of photography and you have many photographic projects over the next four years. 

Your parents were partly right and your skill has grown, so you apply to universities with renowned photography departments.  You declare the major immediately and go even more in depth in technique, etc. of photography.  The university also had a general education curriculum that was supposed to broaden your learning horizons, but you were so busy with all your photography classes (giving priority to them, of course) that you had no time to really soak in anything else.  Plus, those classes don’t really relate to what you want to do anyway.  You graduate as the best technical photographer in your class.  If there was a photography test (and there probably were many) you would pass with flying colors.  You know all the ins and outs of cameras and film.  You may be a little worried about finding a job, because you soon realize all that you know is photography, but rest assured, you find one.  Your pictures are beautiful, but something is missing.  You have become a great technical photographer at age 22 – you have to some degree perfected your skill, but you never learned how to be a good reader or critical thinker.  You take beautiful pictures, but what is the purpose?  What statement are you making as an artist?

I got to interact with the filmmaker Fred Wiseman last year around this time and something he said has really stuck with me.  Someone asked him what advice he would give to a class of aspiring photographers/filmmakers/professional artists.  He said that he would tell them to read.  To read and learn to think.  He commented on how classes are far too geared at making photographers rather than more complete humans. 

Besides, I bet some great artists were not necessarily the best at technically producing their art, but rather really deep thinkers and adept learners.  And the issue is much broader - I think Mr. Wiseman’s advice rings true through all fields of study (computer science, chemistry, etc.). 

We are more focused on passing a test or of becoming a profession than we are on truly learning.  And on top of that we are tempted to think that learning is a temporary thing, something that stops once you graduate.  Fortunately, it does not; but I think that such a mindset and focus has hindered many areas of our lives.

I think this also has deep ties to modern Christianity.  We are too quick to look straight to the end.  The, albeit very important, question ‘Am I saved?’ is asked far more often than ‘What is God telling me, teaching me right now – What can I learn from my walk with Christ today?’.  What if we approached our life with Christ more as a learning opportunity than as a test?  What if we approach our life in general more as a learning opportunity than as a test?

P.S.

Truly we need training in the skills of our profession.  A photographer has to know how to operate a camera effectively.  But, the way I see it, that is only half of what it takes to produce quality art.  Being adept in a profession is important, but is only part of what it takes to develop a quality life. 

P.P.S

A test may give some sense of urgency, but shouldn’t the desire to live in and learn from our Savior have just as much urgency?  A test may call on us to do something with what we take in – to prove what we’ve learned, but shouldn’t our experience with and what we learn from Christ compel us to act out of and demonstrate the love He offers us?

…Or maybe I am just bitter about the effect the TAKS has had on my life recently…

The Bean Parade

Here is a vision I had last July, inspired by a visit to the Starbucks in the Heathrow Airport.  Enjoy!

The last cup was poured -

Fluorescent lights flickered off.

The manager locked fast the door

And headed towards his loft.

But little did he know

That just inside his store,

One little coffee bean brightly glowed

Then more, and more, and more.

Out of the darkness of the room

The beans gathered together.

Took a glance at good friend Broom,

And promised no mess, no splatter…

Soon the beans were dancing,

But what else do they do?

Overflowing joy so entrancing;

Their fancy moves vibrate through

To all the silent, still cups

So lifeless in their form.

Even Styrofoam and plastic jump

To the beans’ frenzied storm.

“What new life is this we’ve found?”

Shouted one mug to another.

“My stiff feet can leave the ground

My now jovial, good brother!”

The tea bags soon looked in-

So proper and so posh.

“Although we know we can,

This demonstration is – My Gosh!

“We will not stand for this

Frightful fit of undecour!

Our Queen has rules against

Such unruly behaviour.”

But the beans danced wildly forth

Coming quite close to the cream.

The thick, rich, milky force

Let out a stunning scream.

“I was quite comfortable

Here with my solitary reason

Until you came and made unable

This selfish, blissful heaven.

“I’ll never join your dancing,

I’d rather sit and suffer.

I’ve moved far past your silly prancing

To ways much more strict and stiffer.”

“Amen!” the beans replied.

“You have you way and we ours,

But if ever you’d like to try

You know we’ll be around.”

The sweet cake sat posed and still.

With icing of five flavors.

Her prideful, rooted, bashful will

Kept her from mussing her layers.

“It’s just so silly, all your movement,”

She muttered shy and coy.

“I would just die of embarrassment

In joining in your ploy.”

“A fool’s dance this night may be,”

The excited beans shot back,

“If in foolery you humbly see

Just how much self we lack!”

As the beans approached the fruity reel,

The banana timidly said,

“My perfection lies ‘neath this peel.

If I could have just a few moments to shed

“This soiled and dirty, brown and splotched

Forsaken coverin’,

I can join in this scheme you’ve hatched

Showing pure yellow beaut’ within.”

“My fruity friend, we cannot wait!

The dance must go on.

You bear this burden – such heavy weight;

Cast it off! There’re new clothes to don!”

Meanwhile:

The muffin was undressing

To show her rounded top.

Knowing it is a blessing

To be so smoothly cropped.

“Good God!” cried the scones,

Features so angular and calculating.

“That curvy, crafted dome

Of Ms. Muffin is quite teasing.”

So enraptured by the sight,

This party failed to notice

All throughout the night

The beans’ true joy and focus.

So the scones looked lustfully on,

Feeding some external pleasure.

Moving, but some strange false form

That didn’t match the beans’ full measure.

“We can hardly keep contained

Our well placed decorations.

Chocolate chips and blueberry beads leave stains

No matter how perfect their situation.”

The beans danced toward the cold ice box

To catch some relief from the heat.

They found respite on the frozen water rocks,

But could not wake them from their sleep.

They bumped into Mr. Milk –

A whole gallon, galore!

And offered him a few kicks

On their store-wide dance floor.

“Who me?” Milk asked,

Quite surprised by the offer.

“But… I’m always last;

And people typically don’t bother.

“You see, I’m a little heavy.

The whole floor will shake.

I sweat quite profusely;

And when warm, I’m quite rank.”

But the beans, they persisted;

And gave milk a gentle shove.

Although clumsy and jug-twisted,

The dance he did love.

And the beans danced wildly on

Through all hours of the night.

Without tire, without groan –

It was ever such a sight.