In case you haven't heard, Lent begins on, of all days, St. Valentine's Day. February14th for the non-romantics out there.
Ash Wednesday, a day of fasting and abstaining vs. St Valentine's Day, a day of chocolates and date night dinners out.
You will all have to figure it out on your own. I'm writing to encourage you to start thinking about Lent.
What are you going to do to draw closer to Christ this year? After all, He made a pretty big sacrifice to draw close to us. He came down from heaven!
Just let that sink in for a minute: The God who created EVERYTHING humbled Himself to become human so that we could know Him personally.
I think that makes what we do for Lent worthy of much thought and prayer.
There is a lot of reading material out there for the season.
Magnificat puts out a Lenten booklet available here. It's concise and easy to read. I used to buy it, but my parish now has them available for us for a $1 donation.
I'm intrigued by this offer called "The Last Four Things". Daily email videos and essays to read for the 40 days of Lent. The only thing slowing me down is the $20 price tag. It looks amazing but if I get busy and fall behind I feel like I wasted my money. Praying about it.
Of course there is always that "giving up" part of Lent. This year I am giving up internet time, whether it is on my computer or on my phone. I am reading two wonderful books that encourage way less internet "boredom therapy."
I actually spent one full hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament today. If I gave up an hour of internet time wasting I could do that everyday. I can't imagine the person I would be if I spent an hour with Jesus everyday (in addition to Mass).
I know for today I had a LOT to do. I spent the hour anyway and got so much done afterwards that the day was just wonderful. God will never let the important stuff go undone if you give Him your time first.
So, Lent starts in 19 days. What is your Lent going to look like so that you look more like Christ at Easter?
My other blog
Friday, January 26, 2018
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
"Deep Work" vs Deep Listening
Deep Work: Rules For Focused Success In A Distracted World, by Cal Newport, is the January book for the Modern Mrs. Darcy online book club that I joined this year. My hope was not only to read more, but to be able to discuss what I've read with others.
The book takes a look at how our culture and work places are hazardous to "deep work".
The book flap states that "deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It's a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time."
Being a stay-at-home mom for the past 34 years (and homeschooling for a major portion of those years) means I have not been able to do a lot of deep work. My days consisted of 'demands' from the little people that needed me.
Well, the little people are not so little anymore and they are no longer homeschooled so I decided it's time to start honing my "deep work" skills.
I did not know this was a book I desperately needed to read, but God did. He led me to Modern Mrs. Darcy and thus Cal Newport.
The author gives several examples of some pretty over-the-top lengths some deep workers have gone to achieve the quiet, uninterrupted time they required to go deep.
Psychologist Carl Jung built a two story house in the woods with what he called his retiring room. No one was allowed in! J.K. Rowling, while writing the final Harry Potter book, checked herself in to a luxury hotel for more than a week so could finish her masterpiece without the distractions of home. Bill Gates has been known to isolate himself for a week at a time to do deep thinking and reading.
While I haven't found my deep work spot yet (it certainly is not in my house anywhere!) I absolutely know where my deep listening spot is; in the basement, with an iron in my hand, one of my beloved's shirts on the ironing board and the washer and dryer running in the background for some white noise.
This is where I hear God.
This is my prayer spot and my listening spot. We have had some pretty good conversations, God and me.
They are not always earth shattering discussions but they change me; they ground me; they let me know I am definitely not in charge!
This morning's discussion was a bit different. It was bold! It may be dot connecting (you know the dots that God puts in your life that you don't really pay attention to, and then one day something happens and you look back and you're able to connect the dots?).
I'm not sure where we (Wayne and I) are being led, but if my God discussion from today bears fruit it will be a fun ride to get where we might be headed.
I may not have deep work down pat yet, but if my deep listening bears fruit, I will be needing my new skills and a place to hone them. I look forward to the challenge.
Prayers appreciated! Watch for updates.
My other blog
The book takes a look at how our culture and work places are hazardous to "deep work".
The book flap states that "deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It's a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time."
Being a stay-at-home mom for the past 34 years (and homeschooling for a major portion of those years) means I have not been able to do a lot of deep work. My days consisted of 'demands' from the little people that needed me.
Well, the little people are not so little anymore and they are no longer homeschooled so I decided it's time to start honing my "deep work" skills.
I did not know this was a book I desperately needed to read, but God did. He led me to Modern Mrs. Darcy and thus Cal Newport.
The author gives several examples of some pretty over-the-top lengths some deep workers have gone to achieve the quiet, uninterrupted time they required to go deep.
Psychologist Carl Jung built a two story house in the woods with what he called his retiring room. No one was allowed in! J.K. Rowling, while writing the final Harry Potter book, checked herself in to a luxury hotel for more than a week so could finish her masterpiece without the distractions of home. Bill Gates has been known to isolate himself for a week at a time to do deep thinking and reading.
While I haven't found my deep work spot yet (it certainly is not in my house anywhere!) I absolutely know where my deep listening spot is; in the basement, with an iron in my hand, one of my beloved's shirts on the ironing board and the washer and dryer running in the background for some white noise.
This is where I hear God.
This is my prayer spot and my listening spot. We have had some pretty good conversations, God and me.
They are not always earth shattering discussions but they change me; they ground me; they let me know I am definitely not in charge!
This morning's discussion was a bit different. It was bold! It may be dot connecting (you know the dots that God puts in your life that you don't really pay attention to, and then one day something happens and you look back and you're able to connect the dots?).
I'm not sure where we (Wayne and I) are being led, but if my God discussion from today bears fruit it will be a fun ride to get where we might be headed.
I may not have deep work down pat yet, but if my deep listening bears fruit, I will be needing my new skills and a place to hone them. I look forward to the challenge.
Prayers appreciated! Watch for updates.
My other blog
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)