Recharging the Battery!

The Energizer Bunny…it keeps going…and going…and going.  It has batteries that never need to be recharged or replaced.

I am not the Energizer Bunny! 

Last week was amazingly fun…and amazingly busy!  I got to be a part of some awesome planning meetings here at Peace (we have great leaders with wonderfully creative ideas!).  I got to look ahead to the fall to begin finding leaders for our many activities…with much success!  I had the opportunity to do some great work for the bishop, updating both the New Ministry Table and the whole Synod Council on the exciting movement of the Holy Spirit through our synod’s African ministries.   I had the honor of presiding over the very unique wedding of Joanie Mix and Jason Lande.  I got to see my son Ben run in a cross country meet in La Crescent.  Amazing activity after amazing activity!  I loved it all!  Bring it on!  It was a week worthy of the Energizer Bunny!

Well, on Sunday morning at 5:00 my eyes popped awake.  I couldn’t sleep.  I knew my body desperately needed to rest (this was day #3 of early rising!)…but my brain wouldn’t agree.  It woke up and started whirring.  I finally gave up and got out of bed, knowing full well that this couldn’t continue.  If I didn’t get some rest I would crash. The Energizer Bunny can keep going on the same batteries.  Others of us need to recharge.

This summer I experienced some wonderful recharging of the batteries.  I got to go to the cabin for a couple weeks at a time.  I slept in…fished a lot…played games…puttered in the yard…and relaxed.  I needed this ‘deep recharge’ to reset the batteries for the year.

As I lay awake at 5 AM I knew that a trip to the lake wasn’t possible.  I needed a recharge, but a small one.  I had to find a way to unwind and allow myself to relax.  As a person who usually goes at 100 MPH I admit that I’m not very good at this. 

What I found early Sunday morning were two ‘battery chargers’ for my life…and my faith.  Both are very simple…and very profound.

The first comes from a ‘healthy living’ website for Lutheran pastors (using Mayo Clinic’s Embody Health program): Centering Prayer.  Centering Prayer is quite basic.  Find an image to focus on (or a phrase to repeat) and clear your mind.  Usually when I pray I’m full of words for God.  Centering Prayer is a time to “be still and know that I am God.”  It’s not about DOING something…it’s about BEING with God.  I’m giving it a try…a few minutes a day.

The other ‘battery charger’ comes from a pastor colleague of mine, Mary Frances.  She runs Divine Power Yoga in the Chicago area, and here’s the advice she gave: Spend 5 minutes with your legs up the wall. Lie on your back, butt up against the wall and feet straight up. Breathe deeply in through your nose and out through your nose.  Again, the goal is to slow down and be calm before the Lord.  

I love action!  I love to see things happening!  I also need to recharge.  I’m not the Energizer Bunny.  I’m a rechargeable battery that needs to spend calm time with my God.  If I can plug in my cell phone every night for a charge...I can plug myself in with God! 

I know that I’m not very good at this ‘being calm’ thing.  Over the next month I’m committing myself to focus on Centering Prayer…and maybe even use some yoga positions (we'll see what other ideas Mary has for me!).  I’ll let you know how it goes!