Whitney Johnson, Eugene Peterson, and Mike Yaconelli

Bill Bean — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 01:13:32 +0000

Someone shared a post with me from one of the Harvard Business Review blogs. Probably not the place you would expect to get spiritual guidance. The best kind rarely comes from expected sources.

Whitney Johnson had this to say in her post, Go Ahead Take That Break.

“When we do nothing (take a walk, a warm shower, slowly wake up), we defy the “always on” mindset, recognizing that we, like our muscles, become more productive by alternating work with rest. As leaders, we can encourage this healthy rebellion by example. We may think we’re being responsive, even impressive, when we send work-related e-mails at midnight, on the weekend, or vacation, but those who work for us will see us as establishing a norm. If you will take some real down-time without the constant tug of technology or a to-do list absorbing your thoughts, you will give your employees permission to do the same.”

Can you relate to the “constant tug of technology” or a constant pre-occupation with all that needs to get done?

In a past life I had a blog titled The Unnecessary Pastor. I “stole” the title from a book by Eugene Peterson of the same name. (I certainly recommend his books, especially Long Obedience in the Same Direction.) Ever since reading that book I’ve held on to this quote, which seems to go well with Whitney’s HBR post.

“Rest is the ultimate humiliation because in order to rest, we must admit we are not necessary, that the world can get along without us, that God’s work does not depend on us. Once we understand how unnecessary we are, only then might we find the right reasons to say yes. Only then might we find the right reasons to decide to be with Jesus instead of working for him.” ~ Mike Yaconelli

So many things I must learn/re-learn, not the least of which is resting and practicing my unnecessariness.

Thank you Whitney, Eugene, and Mike.

Everything He Touches Turns To Fact

Bill Bean — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:31:24 +0000

“Man is so avid for knowledge that everything he touches turns to facts; his faith becomes theology, his love becomes lechery, his wisdom becomes science. Pursuing meaning, he ignores truth.” Malcolm Muggeridge

That quote came from an article by Ravi Zacharias. Read his post Hyperseeing and the Towers of Babel for the whole context.

Just as Zacharias says, it does lend new meaning to that parable of Jesus. (Matthew 13:13)

» Spirituality

Whitney Johnson, Eugene Peterson, and Mike Yaconelli

Everything He Touches Turns To Fact