A number of years ago (dare I say last century?) my husband, a pastor at that time, met with a church minister of many decades who used to talk about his pink think seat. This seat, a comfy armchair a shade of - you guessed it - pink, was this man's favourite place to sit, to contemplate, to meditate on God, on life, the universe, and everything. He didn't work in this chair, he had no mobile or laptop or iPad to distract him, he just sat. And thought. And thought some more.I remember thinking at the time 'how indulgent, to have a chair just for thinking - I hope his wife has one, too!' But now I'm older, and perhaps a shade wiser, I see just how intentional such a thing can be.
I don't know about you, but I'm pretty addicted to my technology, to checking my phone regularly for emails, or Facebook, or Googling whatever random thought might pop into my head. Even when I try to be quiet my thoughts seem to carousel between story plot lines, to marketing, to upcoming events, to friends, housework (rarely!), oh, and things affecting my husband, children and friends.
The notion of being still, of intentional pause, is not something I'm terribly comfortable with. I know God is a fan of meditation and quietude, hence His call in Psalm 46.10 to "be still and know that I am God."Perhaps a pink think seat might be necessary - for all of us. A place to be still, to still our hearts to seek God, to hear
God, to be intentional, rather than be carried away with the flotsam and jetsam of the worries of our ordinary life. A place where God's truth can be revealed to us afresh, where creativity can recharge in the presence of the Creator, where we can sit at the feet of the Master and hear His words to us, that can help shape our words for others.
Have you got a 'pink think seat'? If it's not pink, or you don't have a place to be still, where do you do your best thinking - and encountering God?
Carolyn, excellent post. Thank you for the prompt to be more intentional. Your post reminds me of a webinar I watched a few months ago where a nun was interviewed. She made this really fascinating point about a nun's life that it was split between 2 intentions: contemplation and action.
ReplyDeleteIt made be think about Jesus life and what we see in the Gospels is He had 2 intentions too: contemplation and action. He spent time with the Lord in the early hours in contemplation and then stepped out in the daylight into action.
I'd suggest it's a good model for us to follow. Most of my intentional thought time is when I walk the dog. I do it twice a day, early and late. And it's amazing what inspiration I get during this time.
I agree with you, Ian. Sometimes we need a reason to 'switch off' so we can really hear - although I have to admit that just today my morning walk was made a lot easier by listening to an audiobook!
DeleteA great post! Sadly, life seems to rule my day more than I seem to, but my constant is quiet time with God. I have to have it. I don't have A pink seat...I'm more like Sheldon of Big Bang Theory. I have a couch cushion. After my child is in bed for the night, I retreat to my cushion on the couch. Everything is turned off, even background music, and I sit in silence and pray. It's one of the best times in my day!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Nicole! Yes, there's nothing like that time when the kids are asleep :) Thanks for your encouragement - and your comment.
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