As some of you know, I have a passion for mentoring younger women. Being one of those “older women” the Bible says ought to teach the younger women, I feel it’s what God wants me to do.
It also helps keep me young!
Typically, I prefer to meet for coffee when I chat with people, or share some interesting activity with them.
This week, however, I’ve had the opportunity to do some fly-by, short-term mentoring and just chatting with some younger women through an on-line forum.
MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers) International, a Christian organization focused on helping moms of young children, is the co-publisher of two of my books (Breathe and Oxygen). In May, for Mother’s Day, they mailed out 110,000 copies of Breathe to their membership. Yes, that was pretty exciting. You can read more about it on my blog.
This month, MOPS sponsored an on-line forum to discuss that book with the author (me). We’ve had quite an interesting discussion. While I prefer face-to-face mentoring, this is an interesting way to connect with readers.
Breathe is about the spiritual practices of slowing, simplicity and Sabbath-keeping. A number of readers have posted on the forum to tell me how much the book has helped them, which is very gratifying to me as a writer, of course. But it’s also been interesting to read the questions that arise, especially from women who seem to think taking time for stillness is impossible.
One woman in particular has commented several times. One thing she said amazed me: “weariness is the hallmark of the Christian experience.” This is a girl who reads her Bible while jogging on a treadmill (I’m not making that up) and said that spending time in stillness with God is just my “preference” and not an imperative. I tried to gently suggest that something happens when we are quiet and still before God. We experience his unconditional love in a profound way, because we know, experientially, that he loves us even if we are not accomplishing anything!
But still—she’s not the only person I’ve met who thinks this way. But as I told her, we have misinterpreted the Bible if we think work-a-holism in the church is God’s will. Jesus invites us to come to him to find “rest,” not so he can hand us our to-do list.
Click on over to the MOPS website and take a look at what young women these days are thinking and how I’ve responded to them. I’d welcome your comments there as well.
6 Comments
Hi Keri, Several times a week, I visit the St. Joseph Bread of Life Perpetual Adoration Chapel, and I sit quietly and “force” myself to listen to Jesus. That sounds terrible…listening to Jesus should be viewed as the true gift it is, yet life gets so busy that squeezing in rote prayer has become what we consider sufficient. It’s not. When we pray that way, we do all the talking. How in the world can we expect to hear God’s voice? He tries to talk to us, but we can’t hear Him because our voice drowns Him out! Stillness needs to be a part of our prayerlife. Thank you for bringing that message to young, busy Moms. You truly are an instrument of God’s love.
Keep up the good work! AJ
Wow, imagine if just a few hundred of those moms got ahold of the ideas you’re sharing. The idea of Sabbath-keeping is relatively new to me, but since I’ve been trying to reserve some time each week for that purpose (usually Sundays), I am amazed at how my stress level is reduced, and mostly, how much easier it is to listen to God when I make a time and place to do so.
Yes, keep up the good work!
thanks, friends! Our society is addicted to acheivement and accomplishment, so slowing down and being still feel “wrong” somehow, or not “useful”–our ultimate judge of value. But I love sharing this message because the truth of it sets people free!
Keri, this is of interest to me because I also host forums at http://www.boomerwomenspeak.com. We also have a book club and featured author forum. Ie was fun to lurk and see what’s going on at MOPS. You did a fabulous job of staying on topic and sharing your expertise. Congrats!
Dotsie,
thanks for visiting. It was a little overwhelming trying to stay focused and to keep my exhortation gifts in check (i.e. not offend anyone!) But it was really nice to have people tell me they were helped by my books!
I’m going to check out the site and your author forums!
K
I totally agree with you on being still and listening; letting God dominate your heart and fill it with answers, peace and love.
When did listening to God become a time luxury? It shouldn’t be, it should be first. Thank you for sharing this!