5 Reminders I'm Preaching to Myself (plus some great books, podcasts, and more)

Mar 16

A rare afternoon stroll with a friend in L.A. lead to this beautiful greenhouse. It smelled of moist air and earth, and as I opened the door, I felt like I was walking into a special place - a secret garden of sorts.

It’s purpose is profound: as plants inside the main house (a hundred-year-old architectural masterpiece) need restoration and care, they are brought into this small space to be loved, refreshed, and tended to until they are vibrant and full of life. This place was special and I knew it the moment I rounded the path’s bend and saw glass walls and roof sparkling in the sunlight. There was something in me that wanted to just linger…to find my place on a bench or old wooden stool to sit and be refreshed.

It kind of reminds me of what’s happening in my life right now. Maybe you can relate? My people are being pulled in close. We are spending more time at home. No school or extracurriculars to keep us hoping. Our pace of going-going-going is finding the breaks.

I think there’s a deeper opportunity here, if we will find it, that goes beyond new routines, working from home, and “social distancing.” Don’t you?

We don’t have to give into the widespread fear and anxiety around us. We can choose a different response.

There are tons of resources and conversations circulating online and on social media, so I’m not going to preach a sermon here. BUT - I thought I’d share the reminders I’m preaching to myself:

Slow Down. I have permission to slow down. (So do you.) I don’t have to give in to the frenzy in my mind or in my actions. The quiet is good, and if I find it uncomfortable, it’s probably an indicator I need a little more of it. I happen to work from home (even when there isn’t a pandemic), and it’s tempting to just work more and more to fill in the spaces. That’s not who I want to be. There’s some forced margin here, and I need to embrace it.
Pay Attention. Who needs an encouraging text or note? Who could benefit from an extra bag of groceries? How can I help in ways I wouldn’t normally? What friend haven’t I chatted with in a while? “Social isolation” could lead toward total inward focus, but it’s a great time to actually shift our gaze outward and upward.
Prioritize Spiritual Growth. While prayer and Bible study are part of my regular routine, I don’t often linger. There’s always something else I need to get to. Why not linger a little longer? Maybe you’ve been meaning to do a Bible study or build a prayer habit. Now is the perfect time to start.
Fill My Heart & Mind with Good Things. What I put in, eventually comes out - in my words, thoughts, emotions, etc. So, in this time of potential stress and fear, I want to fill my heart and mind with good and true things. I’m limiting my news checking to once a day (sometimes twice) and I’m consuming more good words (see my reading and podcast lists below) and worship music than I normally do.
Invest in my health. Oh the snacks! (insert dramatic pause!) When I’m the tiniest bit stressed, I want to munch. I’m committed to sticking to my habit of intermittent fasting and eating whole/healthy foods. Some of you know I joined the FASTer Way to Fat Loss about a year ago to redefine my relationship with food and to ramp up efforts to get strong…it’s been a game-changer and totally doable - even now! Exercise is so important! I’m purposing to move every day - taking a walk, doing an YouTube workout, etc. We aren’t confined to our houses, friends. We can get out and move our feet!

There are so many ways you can invest time. Did you know 12 famous museums are offering FREE virtual tours!? (Including the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. - one of my favorites!) Here are a few other favorites…

Books:

Suffer Strong - are you familiar with Katherine and Jay Wolf and all they are doing through Hope Heals? If not, I can’t wait for you to “meet” them! This book is timely - for all!
Saints - my new friend, Addison Bevere, just released Saints. He’s challenging all of us to become “more than Christians!”
Eat. Pie. Love. - from my dear friend Tara Royer Steele! I was honored to endorse her book and if you are looking for a weekly (or daily) dose of encouragement, it’s for you!
IMMOVABLE (this is my book…duh…of course I love it! And if you haven’t read it, now is a GREAT time!)

Podcasts: (you’ll find these on your favorite podcast app)