Growth

Shopping for Time

Last weekend I had the joy of watching our junior high pastor’s kids as he and his wife led a cadre of young people to winter camp. I happened to arrive when the little ones were already down for their nap, and after I said “goodbye” to their previous babysitter realized that all my stuff was still in the car and would have to stay there until naps ended. Since I’m not a fan of wasting time, I quickly tried to figure out a way that I could be productive. As I searched I happened to see “Shopping for Time: How To Do It All And Not be Overwhelmed” sitting on their bookshelf. Considering the circumstance it seemed like an appropriate read.

I had heard of this book for a while and know that many people extolled its benefits. Carolyn Mahaney and her daughters tackle the difficulties that women in particular often face in managing all their different commitments. The book is a short, easy read, and does contain many helpful tidbits. I didn’t find any of it revolutionary, and perhaps, as someone who tends to manage their time well this isn’t surprising. The part of the book that I had heard the most about – the 5 o’clock club – seemed pretty blasé in light of my normal routine.

However, there is another reason that I think that I may have not been the target audience for the book and that is because it tended to focus on mothers – specifically mothers with younger children. This isn’t to say that the authors never acknowledged people in other life stages – they did, but many of the situations that they referred to, as well as the advice they extolled were geared for this group. That being said, women in other life stages would still find the book helpful, especially if they are struggling with how to make the most of their time in each day.

The section of the book that was most meaningful to me was on the need to often choose between the good things that we could do, and the best things that we can do. For many women a lack of options is not the issue – but how to choose wisely is. This book provides some encouragement as well as advice on how to do just that. As the title suggests, the book uses the analogy of shopping to explain these and other principles and as such does a good job of engaging its audience and providing an enjoyable read.

If you are struggling with time management or a feeling of overwhelmingness in how to manage all of life priorities, Shopping for Time is a good place to start. It may not provide everything you need to create a new plan, but if you incorporate its principles it will jumpstart you down the right path.

 

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Growth

Living Prayer

Take my life and let it be, a living prayer, my God to Thee.

As far as I know the above lyrics from the Allison Krauss song were not written in response to Henri Nouwen’s book With Open Hands, but if they were, it would certainly fit. After all, both the song and the book are essentially about the same thing, learning that prayer isn’t a moment, but a manner of being. Sculpturally this makes sense, as we are instructed to “Pray continually” (I Thess. 5:17) something that simply can not be if prayer is a single act. Instead, prayer must be something beyond a formal appeal before our Heavenly Father. Allison Krause’s song, and Henri Nouwen’s book explains how this can be.

For readers unfamiliar with Nouwen, I must first tell you, rectify this right away. Nouwen is the author of many books including my two (so far) favorites,Life of the Beloved, and Here & Now. Reading Nouwen though is all the more meaningful when you know a little about his life. As the jacket on With Open Hands reveals, Nouwen was an Ivy-League professor before he gave up his life of ivory-tower privilege to spend the balance of his Earthly time serving in a community of developmentally disabled men and women. This is important, because as you read Nouwen’s book on prayer, you realize that he’s not merely writing theological theory, but you are perhaps getting a glimpse into his own journey of Heavenly conversation. The book developed as a result of a series of exchanges with some of his students, but one also gets the impression that it developed as a result of a life educated through practice.

What does With Open Hands have to teach us about a topic that is nearly as old as the Earth? They are four main lessons that will have a profound impact upon your life of prayer.

1) Prayer is exposure – True prayer is being open before God – acknowledging our complete unworthiness in the light of His holiness. Prayer, therefore, is not a time to merely speak, but to listen. To acknowledge who God is, and that we are not Him, and to, with gratefulness, remember that we while we shouldn’t be able to approach Him, He has provided a way to make it so.

2) Prayer is acceptance – As Nouwen writes “Those who live prayerfully are constantly ready to receive the breath of God and let their lives be renewed and expanded.” (p. 54). Prayer, therefore, is not about getting God to bid to our will, but is about aligning our will with His. In doing so, “you become a person…capable of standing open to all the gifts which are prepared for you.” (p. 52). It is common to say of prayer, “there are no athiests in the foxhole.” This is becuase even those that choose not to acknowledge God in their daily lives, turn to Him when life feels like a war zone. In other words, they choose to trust that something greater than them can intercept their lives and change the perceived trajectory. Continuous prayer, is a demonstration that not only do we trust God in the trying moments, but that we “put our lives in the hand of God.” (p. 77). – Nouwen writes, “If you are to have a future, it will be a future together with others” (p. 81). Profound words from a man who would give up Earthly comfort to live in a community of need. C.S. Lewis is given the attribution of writing, “I do not pray to change God; I pray to change me.” The more we faithfully come to prayer and risk exposure, the more we align ourselves with God’s purposes in our lives. And God’s purpose is that our lives would be use to change the lives of others. Prayer therefore is not primarily a means for us to get what we want, but is an opportunity to be more like Christ as we intercede for the needs of others.

3) Prayer demonstrates faith –

4) Prayer is not primarily about us

“With Open Hands” is a quick read, but it is by no means an easy one. Nouwen will challenge and stretch your concept of prayer, and in doing so, you will gain a new perspective on what it means to converse with God.

Question for comment: Why do man find it so hard to be faithful in prayer?

 

 

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