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The light of mindfulness

flashlight appI had been in our Sunday school classroom only five minutes yesterday morning when—darkness. The electricity went out.

That’s one way to shake free of mindlessness. 

Mindlessness is going through the motions without even thinking. I couldn’t do that in the dark.

I was forced to be mindful.

Author Ellen Langer begins Part 2 of Mindfulness with its key qualities.

1. Creates new categories
Kids reframe things naturally—sticks become guns; blankets become hide-outs; Ken becomes Prince Charming.

But we adults sometimes lose this imaginative ability.
 
When the lights went out Sunday, I thought, “We can’t have class now.”
Yet with a couple of flashlight apps and later two small candles, why not? Our class without electricity carried on. 

2. Welcomes new information
There’s always more to learn, new information to let in.

Both our prayer leaders yesterday caught themselves unconsciously speaking into the microphone, even though it was dead. But once they became conscious of it, they instead stepped away from the mikes and spoke louder.

3. Considers others’ perspectives
Langer says studies show we tend to blame circumstances when we mess up, but blame others personally when they do.

That faulty attitude can stunt our potential to make useful changes in ourselves, and prevent us from being empathetic toward others.

Yesterday I tried to put myself in Allen’s shoes (our preacher). I immediately became more lenient in judging his sermon because I knew it wasn’t the one he had prepared to preach (but it was good, nonetheless).

4. Increases control over context
Football players don’t get upset when 300-pound strangers pound them. But don’t try that off the football field. Sometimes context is everything.

We typically sing at my church from the lyrics projected on screens. But without electricity to run the projectors, we had to sing from memory.

I became far more mindful of the words I was singing because I was forced to think hard what they were.

5. Values the process, not just outcome
If I were to rank our Sunday service by the outward product, it might have been low. None of the leaders were able to use what they had prepared and it showed.

But Christianity is as much journey as destination. It’s not how polished the outcome is, but how we’re growing in Christ through the process.

And this time, maybe being kicked into darkness made me see a little more light by becoming a little more mindful. 

* * *
Linking up with other readers of Mindfulness at The High CallingMindfulnessUseitonMonday

Comments (15)

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I love how God gave you this experience to help process through the information, Lisa! And you do it so well. I laughed a little about the "flashlight apps"--what in the world did we do before? But I think this is an example of mindfulness--I think this new generation might have this mindful thing down a bit better than mine. I've been impressed by the creative thinking that is going on in this social media generation. I'm working on that...
1 reply · active 708 weeks ago
Laura,
Yes, I thought it was very nice of God to give me that experience so I could apply that chapter. :-) He’s good like that. (I didn’t know flashlight apps existed either until Sunday.)

Being mindful with social media…yes, that is a new challenge that we definitely need to keep on top of. I want to use it positively instead of negatively but it does require awareness.
But Christianity is as much journey as destination...my "food for thought" today as I go through my day.

I will also be purchasing that book!
1 reply · active 708 weeks ago
Dianna,
I think you’ll enjoy the book. I bought a used copy from Amazon. It was written over 20 years ago, but the information isn’t time-bound. It’s not written from a Christian perspective, but you know how we do—look for Truth in whatever we’re reading.
I appreciate the perseverance demonstrated by your whole church. That's the thing about Christians, they won't give up... That speaks volumes. Great attitude by all of you, very inspiring. Thanks.
1 reply · active 708 weeks ago
Thanks, Floyd. I think being without electricity for a week or so during April after the tornadoes came through has taught us that we can make it without electricity for a few hours.

I love what you said about Christians not giving up. That’s the goal; keep faith til the end!
If your temperatures were like ours yesterday, it was a day that being without AC or heat would not have been a problem. Hopefully that was the case. I tend to be a big wimp when the power goes out, but then I think of all those years people functioned without it and countries that still don't have it, at least not as much as we do. Great lessons here.
My recent post The Week In Words
1 reply · active 708 weeks ago
Barbara,
Yes, I imagine our temperatures were very similar. SO nice the past couple of days.

My grandmother in Mississippi never had AC. Ever. We would always burn up when we’d visit her house in the summer. And she would always freeze when she’d come to ours because of our AC. I guess God designed us to be adaptable within certain ranges. There’s a lesson in that too…

This is such a great example of how a shift in perspective can show us things we otherwise wouldn't see! Excellent!!
My recent post Name Above All Names
1 reply · active 708 weeks ago
I wish I could better control my ability to shift perspectives all the time. It would save me a lot of heartache…. ;-)
I am a rigid one, so this was all good for me to read -- sounds like an exercise in creativity and flexibility (and I didn't even know there was such thing as a flashlight app!).

Thanks for joining in Lisa!
1 reply · active 708 weeks ago
There were probably three people with that app in our class of 20+ people. And we’re a class of mainly middle-age folks. Ha. I’m guessing the teen class lit up the whole room with their technologies.

I also tend to be too rigid so anything that gets me out of a rut is usually a good thing. I’m loving your “Hear it Sunday…” meme. Such a great way to make us more “mindful” of what we’re listening to on the weekend.

I always love what you have to say. When i teach on a Sunday i have a chalk board, a stand for my books and papers and my Scriptures. Yes, i have technology at my finger tips if i wanted to use it but nothing is more powerful then God's word. I don't even have a microphone and i only have a little voice, proving again the power of God. How grateful i am to Him.
1 reply · active 708 weeks ago
You’re right, Bev. The most powerful thing we’ve ever had or ever will have is God’s Word. I think it’s great to use technology if it helps us get that Word out, but God is plenty capable of getting it out without any help from our inventions (which originate from the intelligence he gave us anyway).

I love that simplicity can still be just as effective now as it was thousands of years ago. The lack of electricity now and again helps me see that. God’s Word still stands.
As Pema Chödrön says,“ In meditation we discover our inherent restlessness.Sometimes we get up and leave.Sometimes we sit there but our bodies wiggle and squirm and our minds go far away.This can be so uncomfortable that we feel’s it’s impossible to stay.Yet this feeling can teach us not just about ourselves but what it is to be human"

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