Do you know that in the field of education, books are categorized as educational “experiences?” They are in the same category as field trips. It makes sense. When we can’t take kids into space, reading a book can still paint a vivid picture in their mind of what it is like to travel there. We all know part of the allure of books is that you don’t have to actually go through the situation yourself to share in the emotions of the characters, to take in and file away the information…and for a moment, feel like it has happened to you.
I didn’t give much thought about the power of these borrowed experiences until an illuminating round of a game we call “left, right, straight” with my son.
The game is simple. He tells me what direction to go and I follow what he says, because, well, kids need to feel in control sometimes, too. One day he left, right, straighted me into a cul-de-sac with huge houses and perfectly manicured lawns guarded by stone lions. In the midst of the opulence was a tiny trailer tucked into the corner with sagging windows, leaning heavily to the right. The grass was tall enough to hide in. Parked in its tiny gravel driveway is a Lincoln Town Car—probably the first one ever made—with peeling paint and its trunk held shut with a bungee cord. Next to it is an unmarked van. My immediate thought—someone is tied up in that basement. It is a strong thought. A “9…1…finger hovering over the 1” thought.
I am pretty sure my prejudice for trailers, bungeed trunks, and unmarked vans comes from the steady stream of psychological thrillers I read and watch. I take them in like a kid with candy, without concern of nutritional value or portion control. It is alarming that I have such a skewed perspective on inanimate objects. How might this flood of fictional data be affecting how I subconsciously approach my life circumstances and people?
I need to give these things I allow access to my brain the weight they deserve. Books, movies, television shows—they are all experiences I am giving myself and which I have complete control over.
According to Shakespeare, “All the world’s a stage,” and I think the same holds true for my brain. Thoughts I allow march across a set I designed all day long. As an introvert I tend to spend more time than the average person in this inner sanctuary, so I especially need to make sure it is a healthy environment. As with any endeavor, it begins with good questions. What does the wallpaper of my mind look like? What grows there? Is it sunny, partly cloudy, or stormy? Is it habitable? And, as a Christian who believes I am inhabited by the Holy Spirit, another whole layer—is it habitable for Him?
When I stop to think about it, my default is dark with storms imminent. I tend to be cynical and suspicious of people and have a strong need for control.
Bill Johnson writes in The Resting Place that the Holy Spirit is like a dove that settles on your shoulder. I think this is a good check point. I imagine my dove of peace is often circling like a 747 at LaGuardia in a hailstorm. There is no place for peace to land in a brain flooded with distractions and borrowed anxiety.
So how do I change this? How do I change my default setting?
Well, if books count as “experiences” then there is one that, as a Christian, should have a ripped seam and pages falling out.
One of my favorite passages, well-used by me and shared with others, points to a possible solution…
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
I have a friend who has a child with special needs. She faces new challenges every day and battles it with a “thankful jar” where she collects post-its with words of thanksgiving throughout her day to read later. That will certainly change your mindscape. #momgoals, right?
The “thanksgiving” in the passage above takes this one step further. It has us taking these post-its right to God, turning it into a way of experiencing His Presence in the midst of our thankfulness.
Another thing I learned from my education classes is the importance of schema to your brain. Schema is like an organizational structure you fit knowledge into so it makes sense to you. I don’t know about you, but my brain sure could use a new schema.
Jesus taught us to pray using The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). You have to admit, It is pretty comprehensive. If I started my day by saying this each morning, I feel like I can create a heaven-focused schema to put all of my experiences of the day instead of skipping from one distracted thought to the next.
So, until there is balanced representation and someone finally writes a story where a valiant warrior lives in a crooked trailer and carries his sword of truth in a bungeed trunk, I will be trying to be intentional about changing the way I think. And before this goes the way of a New Year’s Resolution, I will do it the way I am successful about following through with everything else in my life—by making it Google-Calendar-worthy.
Tim Keller in his book, Prayer, teaches a method of praying where you “riff’ the Lord’s Prayer. Here it goes. My new companion for my morning coffee.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name,
Lord, You are high above me and can see all that I can’t. You know how every detail works together to form the big picture. You are the only One worthy of my greatest focus and attention and praise. Help me keep my gaze fixed on You.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Help me break out of my self-absorption and humbly serve the people You have placed in my life. Align me with Your heart and will and show me how to help Your Kingdom breakthrough today in the space You have put me.
Give us today our daily bread.
Thank You for providing everything I need for this day—all the peace, strength, wisdom, and hope that I need to do what You have called me to do.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Put me in a posture of putting relationships above winning arguments. Help me receive the grace and forgiveness You freely offer me so that I can turn and give it to others.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Thank You that even when the enemy seems to steal the spotlight, You are constantly at work. Help me to be about Your Work today, caring for those whom the enemy tries to discourage and uprooting all lies. The truth is that You want us caring for and loving each other and You call us to love even our enemies. Refocus Your people on Your goals and help us see with Your eyes so that we can be agents of love and healing. I pray all this in Jesus’s name. Amen.