"Multitasking and Spiritual Practices" - FaithLink - Sunday, July 27, 2014
As we discussed, multitasking "is more accurately described as task-switching since our brains are built to focus only on one task at a time. Rather than multitasking, we are really just moving from one task to another quickly."
View and interact with the perspective of a multitasker, Kord Campbell
"Stop Texting, Dad! I'm Talking to You!" - graph showing results of a study measuring the number of words spoken by adults to a child while smartphones/computers were on and again when they were off
"What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains" - the YouTube video below summarizes what Nicholas Carr says about multitasking feeding short-term memory at the expense of long-term memory
Journalist Christine Rosen argues in an article in The New Atlantis that "people who have achieved great things often credit for their success a finely honed skill for paying attention."
Core Bible Passages
Luke 10:38-42 - Martha is caught off guard when Jesus tells her to value BEING over DOING
Deuteronomy 11:18, Philippians 4:8 - We should replace what is in our minds with the thoughts and ways of God
Psalm 46:10 - We can let go of our anxiety and trust in an ever-present Creator
Genesis 1:1 - 2:25 - God is intentional and focused in his work and finds great joy in his accomplishments.
Spiritual Practices can help you be more present to God, to your family and friends, and even to yourself. Our handout suggested Centering Prayer, Mindfulness, and Walking the Labyrinth
The following verse from Psalm 46:10 can be practiced as a centering prayer. This was in the "lesson plan" handout and I planned to conduct it, but we did not have time. These were the instructions that you can practice on your own:
Invite participants to read the verse silently, take a deep breath, and spend one minute in silence. Erase the last word so it reads, "Be still and know that I am," and read the verse in silence. Repeat the breath and silence. Erase the last words so it reads, "Be still, and know." Repeat the breath and silence. Erase the last words so it reads, "Be still." Repeat the breath and silence. Erase the last word so it reads "Be." Invite participants to close their eyes and focus on any part of this verse. Spend 2-5 minutes in silence.
Breath Prayers - written by Nancy Walsh, 2013 UMW Spiritual Growth Chair
God wants us to to pray to him. Paul exhorts us to "pray without ceasing." Although there are any number of ways to pray, the important thing is just to do it. One of those ways is known as the "Breath Prayer." It is a short petition which is repeated in an intake of air and an output of air, like inhaling and exhaling.
You may wish to
a) Sit comfortably with a straightened back and your eyes closed
b) Pay close attention to your breathing
c) Ask for the trinity to be with you, to lead, guide, and protect
d) Wait patiently
e) When ready, pray in your breathing rhythm.
Examples are:
Inhale: "Lord, Jesus Christ"
Pause: "Son of God"
Exhale: "Have mercy on me"
OR
Inhale: "Help me (us)"
Pause: "O Lord my (our) God"
Exhale: "for I (we) rely on you"
OR
Inhale: "Lamb of God"
Pause: "who takes away the sin of the world"
Exhale: "have mercy on me (us)"
Interesting and Related Links
Hyde Park UMC's booklet on Methods of Prayer (Tampa, FL)
Pray as You Go - daily prayers for your mp3 player/smartphone/desktop
Article by Pastor Beth on Balancing Physical and Spiritual Health
Article on the connection between Mindfulness and Multitasking
Interesting information on labyrinths and how they are used in churches
Curious if you're a good multitasker? Take these online interactive tests
