2020
Peacefully Together
This Advent Blog is written by an Adult GUMY Leader, Lisa.
Peace is one of my favorite words! We use it casually, “Peace out!” and sometimes a bit more formally. (Pastor Kyle signs his church emails “Grace + Peace.”) It’s even one of many names we have for Jesus. “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6.
I was born during the time of the Vietnam War. In the years surrounding that conflict, songs about Peace were literally everywhere. Mostly, as a kid in the 70’s, I thought of those songs as specifically defining peace as an absence of war. In 2020, I think it’s time to broaden the definition. This year has brought so much: the Black Lives Matter movement, a global pandemic and its impact on the economy, and frequent reminders to take care of our one, precious Earth.
Black Lives Matter. It’s been a movement for a while, but recently it has become much more visible. I’ve had the opportunity this year to peacefully protest, alongside both Black and White brothers and sisters. When I first participated, I thought, okay, I’ll go hold up a sign. But as I learned more about systemic racism, racial profiling, and unfair practices, I found that, if I care at all about Peace, this is a movement I can’t ignore. “Jesus said, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40.
The Pandemic. And the Economy. We are all swimming in the same ocean and our actions have an impact on each other. We each contribute to a more Peaceful society and care for each other, every time we do a small act of kindness (wearing a mask, washing our hands, social distancing.) I feel certain that if we take care of each other, the economy will follow. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27
The Earth. “God blessed the people and told them to fill the earth and take care of it.” Genesis 1:28. God gave us one earth on which to reside and he gave humans the job of caring for it. As I look out my back window, I see a most peaceful scene: Six horses are beautifully and peacefully grazing in the pasture, as the snow falls all around them. The horses appear to be at Peace. They don’t seem to know that there’s a pandemic. Black and White and Brown horses are all grazing peacefully, side by side, trusting that the earth that God has given us, will provide for them.
Friends, I wish you Peace this Christmas season. Find Peace in the little moments: standing up for others, caring for friends, or just spending time (remotely or safely in person) with each other. GUMY Love!
2020
2020
Thankful People Become Happy People
IT ISN’T THAT HAPPY PEOPLE BECOME THANKFUL PEOPLE. RATHER, THANKFUL PEOPLE BECOME HAPPY PEOPLE. BEING THANKFUL IS A KEY INGREDIENT IN LIVING A LIFE OF HAPPINESS.
NEGATIVE-BIASED
THE SAD TRUTH IS THAT THE BRAIN TENDS TO FEED OFF OF NEGATIVITY. OUR MINDS SEEK OUT AND LATCHES ONTO NEGATIVITY MUCH QUICKER, EASIER, AND FOR LONGER DURATION’S OF TIME THAN IT DOES WITH THE GOOD AND POSITIVE ASPECTS OF A SITUATION. RESEARCHER AND PSYCHOLOGIST DR. RICK HANSON COMMENTS THAT THE NEGATIVE STICKS TO THE BRAIN LIKE VELCRO. IT LATCHES ON ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, AS IN, QUICKER THAN THREE SECONDS. NEURONS IN THE BRAIN FIRE INSTANTLY, CREATING A NEGATIVITY CHAIN, A HIGHWAY FOR NEGATIVE THOUGHTS TO DRIVE DOWN WITHOUT OBSTRUCTION. THIS CAUSES US TO VIEW OUR ENVIRONMENT, PEOPLE, AND EXPERIENCES WITH A NEGATIVE BIAS. AND UNFORTUNATELY, OUR SOCIETY TENDS TO BREED AND CULTIVATE NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENT, PEOPLE, AND EXPERIENCES.
HOWEVER, IT TAKES ROUGHLY 20-30 SECONDS FOR THE BRAIN TO PROCESS A POSITIVE AND GOOD EXPERIENCE, MOMENT, OR ASPECT. FAR MORE EFFORT IS REQUIRED FOR OUR BRAINS TO BUILD UP A POSITIVE NEURAL NETWORK.
SO, HOW DO WE REWIRE AND RE-TRAIN OUR BRAIN TO BE POSITIVE-BIASED RATHER THAN NEGATIVE-BIASED?
HERE ARE THREE WAYS I RECOMMEND SHIFTING OUR FOCUS FROM THE NEGATIVE TO THE POSITIVE:
SEEK
SPECIFY
SAVOR
SEEK THE POSITIVE.
LIFE GIVES US VARIOUS KINDS OF EXPERIENCES, EACH ONE LACED WITH SOMETHING GOOD. HOWEVER, WE OFTEN DON’T PAY ATTENTION TO THE GOOD. WE OVERLOOK IT AND FIND THE NEGATIVE. EVER NOTICED A “BUT” PERSON?
“IT’S BEAUTIFUL WEATHER TODAY, BUT, TOMORROW IT’S SUPPOSED TO RAIN.”
“I LOVE MY NEW CAR, BUT, IT’S TURNING RADIUS ISN’T LIKE MY OLD CAR.”
EVEN WHEN WE HAVE SOMETHING GREAT GOING FOR US, WE LEAN TOWARDS THE NEGATIVE. BE A “BUT” PERSON IN THE OTHER DIRECTION, OR AN “AND” KIND OF PERSON.
“MY CAR BATTERY DIED, BUT, IT’S AWESOME I HAVE A CAR, THE FUNDS FOR A NEW BATTERY, AND FRIENDS WHO CAN HELP.”
SPECIFY THE POSITIVE
OFTEN TIMES, WE’LL BE GRATEFUL FOR THE GOOD IN GENERAL. THIS IS A GREAT START. HOWEVER, RATHER THAN SIMPLY STATING “I’M THANKFUL FOR MY FAMILY”, WE CAN BECOME MORE SPECIFIC, AND NAME ONE PERSON AND THREE SPECIFIC AND DISTINCT ASPECTS ABOUT THEM, OR THINGS THEY DO THAT WE’RE GLAD FOR.
SAVOR THE POSITIVE
SPEND SIGNIFICANT TIME SAVORING THE GOOD AND BEAUTIFUL ASPECTS OF LIFE. IF WE ARE GIVING THANKS FOR SOMETHING, GIVE YOUR BRAIN THE APPROPRIATE THIRTY SECONDS TO CATALOG IT, DIGEST IT, AND SOAK IT INTO YOUR NEURAL NETWORKS. PERHAPS:
TAKE THREE DEEP BREATHS BEFORE YOUR MEAL AS YOU GIVE THANKS FOR THE ABUNDANCE OF NOURISHING FOOD IN FRONT OF YOU, AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO COOPERATIVELY TOILED TO BRING IT YOUR TABLE
PUT 30 SECONDS ON YOUR CLOCK, AND ACTUALLY FILL THE ENTIRE TIME FINDING THE GOOD IN A SPECIFIC SITUATION
SLOW IT DOWN. KEEP A GRATITUDE JOURNAL IN WHICH WE HAVE TO SLOW DOWN AND WRITE OUT WHAT THE GOOD IS, OR SPEAK IT TO ANOTHER PERSON. THIRTY SECONDS IS EASIER TO FILL WHEN WE’RE WRITING IT DOWN OR CHATTING ABOUT IT. WHEN WE JUST THINK THROUGH IT IN OUR MINDS, THIRTY SECONDS QUICKLY BECOMES A CASUAL TEN SECONDS AND WE MOVE ON.
PRACTICING GRATITUDE BOOSTS OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM, INCREASES OUR CONCENTRATION, LOWERS STRESS WITHIN THE BODY, FOSTERS HEALTHIER RELATIONSHIPS AND GIVES US A HAPPIER FRAMING OF THE LIFE WE LIVE.
HOW WILL YOU PRACTICE GRATITUDE TODAY?