A psalm of lament is cathartic and healing. A lament expresses sorrow, failure, disappointment, and loss, but it also articulates the power, salvation, and love of God. But there is a category of psalms that expresses lament. Often, we think of the Book of Psalms as being hymns of praise and rejoicing. See? You feel better already just reading about it. Watch the ripples on the surface move to the edge and dissipate. Another exercise is to think of a drop of water falling into a basin of water. Watch the monkey become exhausted and take a ride on the back of the ox. See on the jungle floor the slow walk of the quiet ox. Visualize the monkey as representative of your chattering thoughts. Now think of the quiet, steady ox that is slowly, determinedly walking to its destination. Think of the monkey who chatters and swings wildly through the jungle canopy. One is referred to as the monkey and the ox. For all of these, find a quiet place and a relaxed position. I am talking about the intentional act of quieting all the chatter going on in our minds. I’m not talking about the cartoonish idea of sitting cross-legged and humming. That one calming place can bring a lot of peace to our chaotic lives. What is it that brings calm to you? Is it a neat flower bed, a clean dining room table, a shiny car, or a well-made bed? Decide what that one thing is, and make sure it stays that way. Hectic days often cause messy ways, and a cluttered mess makes most of us feel out-of-sorts. This method helps to relax our body and bring our breathing back to a natural rhythm. Then exhale through your lips for 8 counts. Breathe in through your nose for 4 counts. Practicing a breathing technique can restore rhythm and order to our body.Ī popular technique is the 4-7-8 breathing method. When that happens our breathing can become shallow, restricted, and erratic. Breatheĭuh! Sounds funny doesn’t it? Anxiety causes our body to tense up. Like putting on a favorite sweatshirt, it will bring you comfort. All the rush of the morning and the anticipation of the day stops, and I am completely mindful of this one act.įind something that you can do every day that helps you forget everything else except one simple thought. That short 30 seconds of holding this gift from my parents and winding it prepares me for my day. Every morning before I leave the house, I pick up the watch, click it open, and slowly wind it. Be MindfulĪs anachronistic as it sounds, I carry a pocket watch. These are options that may not be so familiar to us. We are familiar with them – prayer, scripture and devotionals, walks, conversations with a friend, the off-switch on our TV, or the power button on our electronic devices. There are tools to help us move to a better place. Uncertainty ushers anxiety and fear into the theater of our mind to sit beside us while our eyes are glued to the screen.īut we do not have to remain in that place. We may be grandparents missing the physical closeness of our children and grandchildren. We may be students or teachers navigating our way through online classes. We may be teaching children who are no longer in school. We may be working from home instead of the office. Many people find themselves in unfamiliar territory. COVID-19 has brought us to an uncertain place.
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