J McD Writes

Jim, Pam, Dwight, Angela, Kevin and Creed. If you’re anything like me, you love them more than Dwight loves beets, bears and Battlestar Galactica. If you don’t recognize the names, they are characters from my all-time favorite show, The Office. 

While these people may not be your crew, you’ve probably found a similar affection for other TV characters from Friends to Cheers, Happy Days to the Andy Griffith Show. When we watch characters for years on end, they become a part of our lives.

I’ve got a confession. I’ve watched The Office two complete times, and I’m currently on my third trip through. That’s probably not too unusual, we all have shows we continue to watch. But, here’s what may be unique to me. I skip certain episodes. I skip the one where Michael, the show’s main character, leaves. And, I also skip the last two episodes.

They are excellent but sad. I don’t like to be sad, so I avoid them. I don’t believe in being unnecessarily sad. Life can be sad enough, I’d rather not pay for a movie that makes me cry. Nobody enjoys sorrow. And, in the midst of that mindset, Jesus’ words seem strange.

I believe it’s a wise choice to move away from unnecessary sadness. But, to be completely transparent, sometimes I avoid sadness that is needed and necessary. There are certain situations worth mourning. 

We have a perfect heavenly Father, and a Savior whose love led Him to the cross. Yet, we still choose sin over our Savior. That’s worth mourning.

The world is a broken place. People suffer abandonment, hunger, hatred, sickness and slavery. That’s worth mourning.

We interact with individuals on a daily basis who are headed into an eternity of loneliness and suffering.  That’s worth mourning.

Mourning is necessary. It moves us from sin to repentance, from apathy to acts of love, from silence to sharing. 

Don’t miss out on mourning, for it may be through the sorrow that God begins to grow and use you. And when we mourn, we have this promise: We will be comforted!

It was orange, goofy and uncomfortable.  There was no way I was wearing it. As I stood staring at the ocean in front of me, a kayak at my feet and a paddle in my hand, the thought of wearing this ridiculous life-vest seemed unimaginable. I boldly tossed it to the shore, confident in my ability as a swimmer.

Three separate times I was tossed from the kayak. I remained in the deep water, paddle in hand, as I watched the boat rode the wave back to shore. Three times I made the swim back to the beach. 

An hour before I was determined not to use the lifejacket. It was ugly, uncomfortable and in my mind, unnecessary. I could handle this. Fast forward a few minutes and pride and arrogance gave way to desperate dependance.

Here’s my paraphrase. Happy are the desperate and dependent.

If I’m not careful, sometimes the same ridiculous thoughts I had standing by the ocean can seep into my heart and mind. While I’d never be so bold as to toss my faith to the side, there are times when it does feel unnecessary. Aren’t there certain things I can handle on my own? 

Sometimes walking with Jesus becomes uncomfortable, He may call me out on a sin or call me to step up as a husband and father. Sometimes a walk with Christ causes me to stand out and look a little stranger than I already do. 

But, like fighting a current, and swimming with your hands full, a life lived in our own power is utterly exhausting. If we want to experience the kingdom of God, we must live a life of desperate dependance. 

What are you desperate to see happen in your life? 

What would it look like to live dependent on Jesus? 

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.”—Psalms 1:2 

There are few outlets that can keep my attention day or night. Buzzfeed is one. It knows me. It draws me in…with the most ridiculous, random lists. 45 Things from Your 90’s Childhood You Probably Forgot. The 25 Most Loved One-Hit Wonders Ever.  31 Horrendous Pinterest Fails.

When I think about living out this verse, it’s one big Pinterest fail. A mind wandering, dozing off, what am I doing right now fail.

It’s a beautiful picture, waking up and delighting in Gods Word, going to bed meditating on His Law. But what does meditation actually look like? Do I need to wear yoga pants? Should I light some incense? Will I need to invest in a gong?

I love the idea of meditating, it sounds meaningful and important. But what exactly am I supposed to do? I envision sitting on the ground, cross-legged humming until my mind is empty.

The Hebrew word translated as “meditate” actually carries the idea of uttering, muttering, or even roaring. Muttering I can do, even in the morning, before coffee.

Meditation has become an important part of my spiritual walk but in a different way than I would have imagined a few years ago. 

Whether I’m taking a walk, driving to work, showering, or falling asleep, I’ve found I can meditate. Here’s what it looks like for me…taking one phrase, verse or passage and repeating it in my mind focusing on one word at a time. Take the Lord’s Prayer for example.

OUR…God is my God. I belong to Him, and I’m not alone. He’s our God. I have a family in God that spans the entire globe.

Our FATHER…God is my Father. He loves me, He cares for me, He provides for me, He looks after me.

Our Father WHO… Our God is personal. He is a who. I can know Him. I can talk to Him…

The process is simple, allowing one word at a time to roll around in your mind. Simple, but so meaningful. 

I pray this practice makes meditation a more practical part of your spiritual walk. I’d love to hear from you. What other passages would work well with this type of meditation?