Unhurried Living | Helping Christians Rest Deeper & Lead Better

Today is the last in our five-part series where we've been responding to your answers to our poll question: "What is the biggest challenge you face right now in living a more unhurried life?" We received a whole grouping of answers that were all about life's seasons, stages and transitions. " We have the mom with young children at home trying to figure out how anything resembling unhurried time is even possible. " There's the student who is away at college, who feels the pressures of both school and family issues at home. " We have the parents of the college students who are feeling the effects of the empty nest. " There are those in the sandwich generation - caring for both aging parents and children at home. We've also heard from people who say that they can't meet with God in the same ways they used to. They keep working at an old practice that just doesn't seem fruitful anymore. Or they simply cannot make their way to what used to fill their soul. This conversation about seasons, stages and transitions can help us at any point in our lives. I (Gem) remember, at one point, well into my 30s, we were talking and I realized that we kept using the word "transition." "Oh, it feels like we are in another transition." We came to the realization that life was transition. We were always moving from season or stage to the next. Maybe our lives aren't about settling into a destination as much as continuing on a fruitful journey. So, rather than coming up with dozens of specific scenarios about people facing different seasons, stages or transitions, we're going to try to give a vision for the over-arching reality of what these seasons can feel like. Especially as it relates to when we try to carry standards, or expectations, or even practices from one season into the next. We are tempted to see our lives as monolithic. What works for me now will work for me always. Listen in for more on this… Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This is the fourth in a five-part series sharing answers to the question: "What is the biggest challenge you face right now in living a more unhurried life?" Here are the questions on priorities that arose from our community: I want to be able to serve without overdoing it. How do we deal with the impulse to procrastinate as it relates to priorities? How do I deal with urgent things that aren't all that important? What about my relationship with time - managing time and finding time? We'll take a fresh look at the story of Mary & Martha. We'll dig deeper into the "why" of procrastination. We'll get a refresher course on Stephen Covey's Time Management Matrix. And, finally, we'll talk about our relationship with time itself. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Thanks for joining us today. You're really going to enjoy what our guest, JK Jones, has to share about what he's learned from the Monks. He wrote a book a while back titled: What the Monks Can Teach Us. We enjoyed sharing some of the ways that monastic writings, monastic communities and monastic practices have been a source of grace and wisdom for us in our journey with Jesus. You'll also appreciate his gracious, humble, pastoral spirit. JK Jones is Pastor of Spiritual Formation at Eastview Church in Normal, Illinois, and one of his roles is serving as pastor to the other pastors on staff. He and his wife, Sue, have two grown children and two grandchildren. Some of his favorite things in life are time alone with the Lord, teaching others about Jesus and the Jesus-following life, time with Sue and family, good coffee, riding my motorcycle, lifting weights, walking, listening to the hearts and minds of our good ECC staff, and reading great biographies. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today is number three in a series where we are sharing answers to our survey question: “What is the biggest challenge you face right now in living a more unhurried life?” This week, we’re talking about “Distractions and Soul Busyness.” Let’s take a look a look at five of the questions that came up within this theme to see if we can find a little more freedom in our everyday lives. 1 - The internet and social media can eat up my time so quickly. How do I tame the beast? 2 - How do I say "no" to being busy? 3 - How do I break long established habits of "busy"? 4 - I'm bombarded with too much information to process. I make time each morning for prayer and focus on God, but am often too tired to feel alert and to really benefit. 5 - I want to focus this year on living a less distracted life. How do I do that? As you’ll see, over the course of our conversation, we can remember that our life is not out there somewhere waiting for us to grab it. My life is right here where I am, right here where God is present. As a reminder, we have an online course that can help you as you make some space to be in God’s presence. Alan has created 10 meditations on various Psalms. In the course, he’ll guide you into prayer as he reads the Psalm and gives you space to live into what it says. Enroll today in Encountering God in Scripture. There is a one Psalm, free version as well as a paid version with 10 Psalms. GO TO COURSE Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Thank you for joining us today. Over the course of our first few episode of the new year, we are sharing answers to our poll question: “What is the biggest challenge you face right now in living a more unhurried life?” This is the second podcast in that series. Last week, we talked about “Nine Practical Challenges to Living Less Hurried.” This week, we’re talking about “Dealing with Workplace Stress.” Your primary workplace may be a corporate office, a home office, a retail business, a classroom, maybe even your home. The difference between this episode and last week’s is fairly simple: Last week we talked about challenges to unhurrying our lives that rise from within us. This week, we’re talking about challenges that arise from around us. These challenges come from the expectations of others, or the pattern of the culture in which we work and live. Be sure to visit us on our website. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Last year we polled our community and asked them a key question: “What is the biggest challenge you face right now in living a more unhurried life?” Very simple. Very practical. We got some great responses. We arranged the responses into five categories which will be the theme of some of our upcoming episodes. Those themes are:  Practical Challenges to Living Less Hurried  Dealing with Workplace Stress  Inner Distractions & Soul Busyness  Keeping First Things First  Noticing God in My Busy Life So that’s why today’s episode is titled “Nine Practical Challenges to Living Less Hurried.” Specifically, these are challenges that arise from within us. They are personal challenges and places of inward wrestling. Maybe you’ll see one of your struggles below. Listen in to see what we have to say about each one. Challenge #1 - Believing that rest and quiet is OK, maybe even good. Challenge #2 - My belief that I am what I do. This keeps me from focusing on who I am becoming. Challenge #3 - Developing self-discipline and self-confidence to live an unhurried life. Challenge #4 - Learning to be patient with myself and trusting Jesus to lead me into an unhurried life that reflects how he lived. Challenge #5 - Overcoming my guilt when I feel like I’m producing less because I slowed down. Challenge #6 - The anxiety I feel in uncertain situations. Challenge #7 - My preference for multi-tasking rather than doing one thing at a time. Challenge #8 - Knowing how to find quiet for my mind and heart and making contemplative time with God. Challenge #9 - My fear of looking inward. I stay busy to avoid my issues. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The Welcoming Prayer is a process that you can use on the go. It is useful for times when something comes up that makes you feel sad, hurt, or stressed. Sometimes, in the middle of a busy day, we don’t have time to address all of the emotions that come up. But we may notice here and there that an emotion is quite loud. We need a way to deal with it and continue on in our tasks or work. In just a few minutes, you can let the emotion come up and at the same time become aware of God’s presence. Then you can let it pass, and be on its way. You don’t need to argue with yourself or put up a defense. You can simply let go. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Great news - I have found a way to reduce much of the stress in my life. Actually, let me re-phrase that: A way to reduce much of the stress in my life found me. I wasn’t looking for this stress reducer, but it hit me like an 18-wheeler and set me on a new path. Much of the stress in my life is caused by my expectations, as well as my trying to control situations so they turn out the way I think they should. This happens consciously and unconsciously. Lovely. I want to address just one idea that may help ease any tension that may arise as you get together with others. And this is the cool part. It is not about them. This is something you can choose to do for yourself. And it may help you achieve peace even in the midst of what can be a busy season. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Well here we are in December. The Thanksgiving holiday is behind us and the Advent and Christmas season lies ahead. We hear the songs that are calling this the most wonderful time of the year, but it can sometimes feel like the busiest and most hurried time of the year. There are just so many details to solve, so many social gatherings, so many responsibilities. We can end up feeling so rushed that we’re unable to settle into the good news that this season is all about. And what is it all about? Jesus has come to be “God with us.” Immanuel. In my hurry, I forget that God is always with me thanks to the gift of Jesus’ life and the empowering presence of God’s Spirit helping me experience his presence. So, as a way to help us enter into this “God-with-us” reality, I want to share some thoughts about how to unhurry our holidays. A few years ago, when An Unhurried Life was published, I contributed to an article for the Christian post titled “Top 10 Ways to Have an Unhurried Christmas Season.” I’m going to take some time here to unpack those 10 ways in this episode. Now these suggestions are not meant to add a whole lot more tasks to your already-too-long holiday to do list. I’m hoping instead that you’ll find one or two of these ideas to be a way to approach this holiday season from a different spirit—with a more unhurried, relaxed, and peaceful heart. Our Ten Ways to Unhurry Your Holidays Summarized: Enjoy a few sips of your morning coffee or tea for five minutes without doing anything other than enjoying the moment. Take an evening walk in your neighborhood and enjoy the decorations that may be up. Make it a stroll. Feel the crisp air on your face. Engage all of your senses. As you are preparing to buy a gift for someone, slow down enough to ask yourself, "What would they enjoy? What would bless them, encourage them, enrich them, help them?" See if you can resist the temptation to make gift purchasing an exercise in efficiency, but rather an offering of love. Slow down enough to look a salesperson in the eye and thank them for their help. Bless them in the midst of what is a likely a very frantic season for them. Give yourself the gift of one morning to wake up without an alarm clock going off. Take a moment at the end of a day to think back over it. What are you grateful for? Say thanks. What was hard? Ask for help. What do you wish you did differently? Ask for forgiveness. Take the opportunity to spend a little time with someone whose needs are greater than yours. The needs might be financial, emotional, physical, etc. At a Christmas party or holiday gathering, be more present to others by listening well to what they are sharing. Ask questions that express interest and care. Take a moment to read the story about the birth of Jesus (Lk 2:1-21). The prophet Isaiah described Jesus as a child who would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Which of these names hits closest to home for you? Carry it with you through this holiday season. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The ultimate reality is that we are loved by God, just as we are and as he made us (our true self). However, as we grow up, and over time, we begin to construct a false self. The false self is who we wish we were. It is the person we want others to think we are. We compensate for a world that is not what we thought it would be. Over time, we begin to believe the false self is actually us. But we grow tired under the weight of that mask. We need a way to come back to the true self and become more free. The Enneagram is a tool that helps us make our way into that process. Many times a day we move from true to false and back to true again. It is an ongoing process. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.