Stop Skimming Through Life

Last updated on: May 9, 2012 at 5:38 am by JBW

Stop Skimming Through Life 2012-05-09T05:38:59-05:00 JBW

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I sometimes feel as if I have been skipping along some superficial turf for the past several years.

The frenetic pace of my brain has been like a pinball machine rather than grounded, fertile well-plowed spiritual soil. That hamster wheel in my head is constantly churning, getting things checked off the never-ending to-do list with a growing resistance to stop all the doing and just be.

It’s like I’ve been a mile wide and an inch deep.

My prayers have been brief – check the box and move on. And reflective reading, well, it’s lost its status in the shuffle of other priorities. Stacks of journals and books pile up on my desk, only to get shelved or recycled after several weeks upon the realization that I am just never going to get to it.

Introspective, soul-wrenching journal writing has also sorely fallen by the wayside as I instead choose to blog, which is possibly the only outlet I have lately to process my life, spiritual or otherwise. And everyone knows that no one actually reads blogs, they skim. That’s how things are done in internet life. Surface skimming, snippets and bytes. I fear that skimming is bleeding over into the rest of my life.

This short attention span is not building me into the wise, grounded leader that I envision for myself. The constant mind-chatter depletes my ability to get and stay spiritually centered. It chips away at my spiritual core, my ability to be fully present.

If you are always skimming, never slowing down for solid periods of reflection, how will you ever listen to what your life is telling you?

How will you be able to notice the small, simple signs around you?

How will you be able to know what that ache in your back is saying?

How will you become aware of God’s gentle nudging telling you that He’s going to do something new with your life?

So, after attending the super-awesome recharging “Fully Present Leader Summit” last weekend at Princeton’s Theological Seminary with my friends from A New Equilibrium, I have decided to commit more time towards two things that will build more depth in my life: prayer, and reading.

I am reclaiming the reflective time, rediscovering the stillpoint of my life. I will carve out greater periods of stillness in prayer. To sit down more often for a slow read with a good book.

I may not show up so much online. But I’ll be showing up for myself, which will be far better for everyone.

Thanks to Nance Davis for the image.

Previous Post

May 3, 2012

Working Too Many Hours is Sick. Literally.

Next Post

May 15, 2012 Do You Have a Job, a Career, or a Calling?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Ambition Blogging Career Culture Executive Career Development Failure Faith in the Workplace Family Feeling Stupid Leadership Managing People Purpose Reviews Spirituality Uncategorized Work-Life Balance

Select a Month November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Jesus give to Judas at the Last Supper?

Select your answer to see how you score.

A scroll A cup of wine A piece of bread A robe