Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse…Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.”.As I enter church each Sunday, I check-in to Facebook by posting one word . . .Recalibrating.
– Philippians 4:8-9, MSG
I love this word to describe our Sunday mornings with our community of faith. To calibrate – according to the dictionary – means “to correct a process by checking or adjusting again in comparison with a standard.” Each Sunday this is what I hope to do. I hope to adjust the living of my life as a follower of Jesus in comparison to the standard – the life, practice and teaching of Jesus.
At first reading, this can seem very mechanical and cold. Like a scientist recalibrating an instrument. It’s anything but that because it’s just not a one-sided endeavor by myself. It’s a communal endeavor that’s very organic and creative, yet intentional. Much more like a musician tuning (recalibrating) their guitar or violin.
I need to recalibrate on a reoccurring basis. I don’t know any musician who doesn’t tune their instrument before each performance. For me, recalibrating needs to happen daily, weekly, monthly and yearly. Why? Because there is an ever-increasing cacophony of voices and distractions vying for my heart, mind, and soul. Just consider that in . . .
Each Minute of the day there are over . . .
“You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.”And if you’re like me, many days it seems much of these end up on my feeds, in my boxes, and before my eyes and ears all knocking me out of calibration.
– Matthew 5:8, MSG
So I recalibrate because I know I get out of whack way to easy. Before we journey into what I find helpful to do daily, weekly, monthly and yearly, take some time to reflect on this excerpt from the poem A Blessing for One Who is Exhausted by John O’Donohue:
The following section is how I typically create space to recalibrate. I say typically because it doesn’t always happen but I do my very best to create space like this so it can happen. So I can give God access to my heart, mind, and soul to recalibrate them to the image of Christ.
Daily
Lord's Prayer
When I’m aware that I’m aware that I’m aware – you know how that is right? I do my best to set the focus of my day by saying the Lord’s Prayer before my feet hit the ground each morning.
Scripture & Journaling
Once I have coffee in hand I spend some time in Scripture and journaling. Some days are longer than others but it’s a daily practice to be sure.
Pray as you go
Pray As You Go is an app I use at lunch most days.
Daily Examen
The Examen is one of my favorite prayer exercises that I’ve shared about here.
8 Hours of Sleep
Rest is an often overlooked but important part of one’s Christian formation. Next time you are in the Gospels pay attention to how often Jesus has down time.
Weekly
Centering prayer
Each Wednesday afternoon I attend a Centering Prayer Group. We have a short devotional and then practice centering prayer together for 25 minutes.
small group
It’s vital to be in community with others to help you recalibrate.
Weekly worship service
In weekly worship I hear, see, feel, smell and taste elements of my life with Christ that recalibrate me in ways I can’t otherwise receive.
sabbath practice
Another often overlooked but helpful way to recalibrate is to simply keep sabbath. We are human beings not doings – a day a rest is vital.
Monthly
Spiritual Director
Through well placed questions and a listening ear a spiritual director helps you to discern where you might need a little more recalibration.
Book Club
This is one I just started this fall. I joined Renovaré’s Book Club. I have always loved reading and deep spiritual reading is a great path to help with recalibration.
Yearly
Spiritual Retreat
There are few things that can help you recalibrate than a spiritual retreat. The longer the better.
Family Vacation
So important to keep family a priority. The reality is the typical American only takes half of their eligible vacation time.
Receive . . . Reflect . . . . Respond . . .
The exercises below can be used for your own reflection time with Christ but will take on a transformative dynamic when they are used in community with your family, small group or church.