“THE MINISTRY OF NOTICING”
Friday, January 26, 2018
I stopped in the middle of yesterday’s gratitude list. My gratitude list was, in many ways a reflection of my day: truncated and inadequate.
Well, that is not quite the truth: It wasn’t the day that was truncated and inadequate. I was the one who felt truncated and inadequate. There wasn’t a single thing wrong with the day itself.
I’ve had a bunch of days this week in which I have felt very inadequate. I’m not getting much done of what I set out to do in the day. Why is this? I seemed to be doing pretty well earlier in the month. Lazy? Tired? Who knows?!
However, our puppy is curled up in my lap drowsing, and I’m listening to smooth instrumental jazz on AccuRadio. Perhaps that is what I am called by God to do right now. The sun is up after a lovely rising. I wasn’t too preoccupied to notice. Perhaps “accomplishing things” is overrated. Perhaps there is such a thing as the ministry of noticing.
. . .
And then a good friend called, and we had a good chat. I always feel saner after a conversation with him. I think that I am saner after I talk to him!
Checking my little thises and thats off my to-be-and-to-do list may not always be the way to go. A list may be a good servant, but it makes a lousy master. Perhaps I ought to remember that.
So, my main goal for today is to practice the fine art of noticing. I will notice my wife, my dog, my house, my external environment. I will notice when I’m hungry, and the texture and taste of food. I will notice when I need to take a break, which is right now.
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