Saturday, January 09, 2010

Spiritual Discipline Log V

Reading: The Life You've Always Wanted by John Ortberg

An Unhurried Life (Chapter V)
Ortberg describes it as the "hurry sickness" disease.
I remember around college time, "multi-tasking" was talked about as a "great skill." I remember hearing people proudly proclaim that they were good at it and I remember chiding remarks that I was so BAD at it.

Ortberg speaks of poly-phasic activity (multi-tasking) not as a skill, but a behavior that should be avoided. The need to multi-task springs from a hurried life,a spiritually endangered life. For myself, the poor quality that results in my multi-tasking has been enough for me to avoid it. For this who are "good at it," I see this as a real temptation to avoid.

Not mentioned in the text, but I wonder how to deal with being on time and the sense that one needs to hurry sometimes to be on time. I guess the easy answer is simply to have margin in your schedule, go to bed early, and get up early. Other, more subtle thoughts?

Goal Statements
- I don't want to give my wife and family my leftovers at the end of a long day (sunset fatigue).
- I want to chew my food 15 times before I swallow it.
- I want to seek solitude.
- I want to not hurry, like Jesus.

Personal Note
Most often I find myself in a hurry when I am anxious... anxious over a new task or a tight deadline. This is when I need to most watch out for the temptation to hurry. I remember arriving a little late to the airport after visiting my dad. After checking in, we had time for a proper farewell, but I rushed to the security line where he is not allowed as a non-traveler. I missed the opportunity to lovingly say goodbye to my dad because I hurried. Sad.

Monday, January 04, 2010

Spiritual Discipline Log IV

Reading: The Life You've Always Wanted by John Ortberg

A Dee Dah Day - The Practice of Celebration (Chapter IV)
"Joy is a command. Joylessness is a serious sin," (page 63). I have never viewed joy as a command before. Previously, I viewed it more as the bonus of living a Christ-centered life. Ortberg is really challenging me to view that God makes joy the "serious business of heaven." I know of the mirthless religious people that so many unbelievers do not want to become, so having great joy is also essential for sharing my faith with others.
Another concept really took me by surprise. Ortberg says that we are most susceptible to fall into sin when our joy is weakened. That is a fresh outlook into my own patterns of sin and addiction. I can see how seeking a joy-filled life can indeed help prevent sin in my life.
Some additional interesting ideas from Ortberg:
1) We must learn the skill of joyfulness: feasting, dancing, celebrating, etc.
2) Joyfulness is the inverse of Hedonism (is this what John Piper calls "Christian Hedonism"?)