One Good Turn Deserves Another – Restless Dog Syndrome

Ash Wednesday to Sunday 21 February

Why is it just so hard to sit still?  You would have thought that it would be easy just to sit and do nothing.  You don’t have to use any muscles or even think. And yet it isn’t easy – at least for me – as I find that I get distracted by “urgent” emails, cups of tea, forgotten tasks, phonecalls to make….

God, above everything else, wants relationship with us.  Relationships need an investment of time to develop and starved of time they eventually die.  Just think about all the people on the Christmas card list who you only write to once a year….  For our relationship with God to develop or be meaningful we do need to spend time with him.

I make time to be with God, but how much time to I actually spend with him?  I sometimes feel like the dog who turns round and round before eventually settling on his bed only to immediately get up again for a good scratch before repeating the whole process!  One good turn deserves another seems to be the dog’s mantra….

How do we get away from RDS – Restless Dog Syndrome?  Sadly there is no quick fix, no anointed special prayer; it is just a matter of practice and determination.  Paul tells Timothy in his second letter to him that “God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”  We must invoke self-discipline to get us actually sat still and then with practice it becomes easier.

Being with God should be natural, just like it was in the Garden of Eden.  The aim is to regain as much as we can of that sense of closeness to God that Adam and Eve enjoyed.  Although running is a “natural” process it takes practice to run well and loads of practice to become an Olympic athlete.  If Malcolm Gladwell is right in just 10,000 hours you could become a world class listener and hearer of God!

We need to practice being still so that we can listen and allow God to guide our thoughts.  Everything that we will be doing in the weeks ahead builds on this foundation so it is important to get this bit going first.

Exercise

For the few days from Ash Wednesday until the start of our first week on Monday, try to spend a few minutes being quiet before God – not praying, not reading the bible, just being.  Choose a place where you can sit or lie without being disturbed or distracted.  Close your eyes to shut out visual distractions and pray and ask the Lord to be with you.

As thoughts come into your head go with them if they seem to be from God.  [I know this is a difficult area but I am sure you will either know what I mean or experience it!]  If your mind starts to drift keep bringing it back by thinking about the bible verses or by praying in tongues or praying the Collect until you are back in tune.  I find it handy to have a pad and pen nearby to jot down anything that comes up – spiritual and not so spiritual.  For instance I might remember that I need to buy milk and if I write it down there and then I can forget about it until later!

Perhaps we might start with 10 minutes on Wednesday – check on a clock … it can feel like a really long time to start with.  You can then extend the time by a bit each day if it is starting to work for you.

Bible Verses to Ponder

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” – Isaiah 30:15

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; – Psalm 37:7

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." – Psalm 46:10

Prayer for Ash Wednesday from the Church of England

Almighty and everlasting God, You hate nothing that You have made and forgive the sins of those who are penitent.  Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that, lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, we may receive from You, the God of all mercy, perfect forgiveness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Verse to Remember

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” – Isaiah 30:15

Things to do

In the following weeks we will be thinking about fasting, giving things up, taking up other things and all sorts of other stuff, but for these first few days let’s just concentrate on being still with God.

You might consider getting up a wee bit earlier so that you have more time in your morning routine to sit and be still with God.  It is good to find a time that works and then stick to it.