ATB: Continuing to Simply Be

July is halfway through, which means my self imposed 'sabbatical' is as well. As I continue to contemplate further upon what it truly does mean to "simply be" I realize it is beneficial for each day to include some structure. Whether that structure actually has 'teeth' or is simply a nice illusion designed to make one feel productive is purely a personal choice.  This structure could vary from one day to the next and should be extremely flexible. In my opinion, to live with an unyielding schedule is to live with a ball and chain tied to your foot.  But alas, I will concede structured schedules should come into play yet only when there is balance. 

There are bumper stickers with the quote: "no schedule, no phone, no address." It all sounds good on the surface and quite honestly, it's an approach I could easily yield to. Especially the telephone aspect of it (said she who absolutely hate and abhors the telephone.)  Even so that approach when taken seriously becomes a type of malady, a malady that retirees and vacationers alike are in danger of suffering from.  When the opportunity arises in our life to 'simply be' it's too easy to lose sight of the importance of responsibility and accountability. Too much structure binds us physically, emotionally, and spiritually to people, places, things, and issues.  All these things have the potential to consume our every waking moment and conscious thought.  Yet total disregard for structure leaves our mind, soul, spirit, being and inner man/woman wide open to the latest whimsical anecdote or philosophy regarding the purpose of our life.

As some people experiment with drugs, I suppose other people experiment with spiritual beliefs.  There is a wide realm of spiritual activity in the world today, with many persuasive and well intentioned beliefs.  A person can pick and choose their beliefs in much the same way we sit down to a restaurant with a 5 course dinner menu.  But alas.  As surely as not all food choices are healthy for our physical self, neither are all the spiritual choices and teachings healthy for our spirits, for our soul.

I learned years ago to be very particular about what music, books, teachings, and ministry I allowed to permeate my 'being'. No one ever tried to censor what I would open myself up to. When my children were very young, living at home I did pay attention to what they were watching on television and listening to on their Sony Walkman. When mom said no, mom meant no.  We joke now about how I had the kids get out of the car because they fussed and fumed about the music I had playing on the radio.  Don't think I was a terrible mom, we were just about a half mile away from the house.  But they did not want to listen to Contemporary Christian music.  And I did not want to listen to Madonna.  (Today I would choose Madonna's music over a lot of the JUNK that tries to pass it off as music.)  We even had cassette tape destroying wars at times.  One of my favorite tapes would either disappear completely or mysteriously appear all tied up in knots.  Likewise, so would theirs. A bratty adult is no match for a bratty kid. I had MTV blocked on our cable.  I encouraged our children to expand their horizons and live life large as they explored their world. But never at the expense of their innocence, vulnerability, or morality. 

I've been thinking a lot about these things lately.  John and I don't watch a lot of television.  I do enjoy having music playing most of the time.  My cell phone doesn't even take a picture, I don't know how to text, and I don't own one wireless gadget.  My youngest grandchildren have to show me how to use the Wii.  In 1989 we spent thousands of dollars and bought the latest and greatest home theatre system.  13 years later the television has just quit and the only component that works is the radio. For my listening enjoyment these days I link to Pandora or download MP3's that are free.  I discover many wonderful new artists this way.  I do have a hand me down first generation I-Pod Shuffle.  Times have changed for me.  Back in the early 90's I think John and I were about the only ones among our friends who actually had a computer.  I learned about the Internet and email via an administrative stint at a power plant.  In the 90's I was designing non-html websites.  And we always had cutting edge,  high tech computers and software. Including all the latest Atari computer games etc. That was then. This is now.

Eventuall I determined there was way too much noise and busyness in my life.  I remember years ago, riding in the backseat of a car with family and friends headed to a concert. The radio was blasting a Top-40 countdown popular song of the day. And I hated it.  I just wanted the noise to stop. I couldn't hear myself think.  I love music.  I hate noise.  But maybe people fill their lives with noise and busy-ness to avoid being in touch with the deep places within them. Maybe those places are painful, maybe they are sad.  I don't know.  But what I do know is I'd rather feel everything I was created to feel than stifle it, bandage it, and keep pushing it deep down inside so that I become numb to it.

Yet in those moments of quiet and deep reflection, how can we even KNOW who it is we profess to believe in?  I do know the answer to that question.  It is called setting a private, personal place aside - in both your heart and in your home.  Or maybe on a beach.  Or just somewhere that you have none of the other noise, none of the other busyness intruding.  A mini-retreat, a mini-sabbatical such as I am experiencing here at ATB.   And when you do this, reach for the Book that tells the stories of creation, of God's love for mankind.  Reach for the book of Psalms, of love songs, of praise and of prayer. Reach for the book of wars, of famine and flood, of despair and destitution. Reach for the book of hope and of revelation, of truth, of promise.  Reach for the book that leads the way to the living God, the life changer and re-arranger. Reach for the Bible where the love of God can reach out and touch the depths of the soul of any person on this earth who dares to open their heart up to that reality. Even briefly.  Because when that happens, the floodgates of His love quickly fill all those empty places of longing within.  Be still.  And Know. That He is God.  Just try it.  And do it with a Brittany or two quietly laying nearby.  They totally get this whole idea and concept of 'simply being' in the moment.

Take care and God bless you always - John, Ann, and All Things Brittany