The Noticing Waypoint
The reality for Christians, especially in the Western world, is that we live a fast-paced, full, and often frenzied life. Think of how many times you have asked someone, “How are you?” and heard the reply, “Busy.” Or, how many times have you given that answer? I find it very easy to focus on my work “for” God, and I don’t even notice what He’s doing in my life or the lives of those I’m trying to serve. That grieves me! I can easily run past emotional and spiritual warning lights that alert me to the fact that something is wrong in my soul or that I’ve neglected my relationship with God. It’s way too easy for any of us to miss these signals and end up floundering.
Forming the Leader’s Soul says, “learning how to maintain a reflective state of mind as you move through the events of your life is certainly a spiritual discipline that takes time to learn. Examen is practicing this reflective pattern; it is the Ignatian way of looking back and holding ourselves and the pattern of our lives in the presence of God. Tad Dunne refers to this as the practice of noticing.” We need to slow down to notice what God is up to and what’s happening inside us. The practice of Examen is one way I regularly take stock and notice what God is up to and foster a posture of noticing in every facet of my life. This practice has perhaps helped me more than any other spiritual practice in noticing. I need help slowing down!
A broader aspect of noticing happens as I did my personal life timeline, and I discover something new each time I reflect on my life story. Deep Mentoring describes noticing as “the place where we pay attention to God's shaping activity in the story. We are a storied people who are a part of the storied way of God. It is in the particularities of ordinary lives where we find the clues to what God has been up to.” Elizabeth and I enjoy helping people do a simple timeline that lays out their story on one poster board. It’s so fun to see it open people’s eyes.
One of my and Elizabeth’s privileged roles is to help workers notice and name things in their life like seeing God’s character, what He is up to, where they’ve fallen out of step with Him, or how they’ve been shaped. One of the most significant gifts a companion (coach, mentor, friend) can give you is to help you to notice and name various elements of your life and story. Who is a companion for you that helps you pay attention to God? Whom do you accompany and help notice God’s work in their lives?
We like to leave you with a song at the end of each blog post, so today, we leave you with Goodness of God by Bethel Music to stimulate your reflection and prayer as you notice God’s goodness and faithfulness and help others do so as well.
If you want to read to further develop your practice of noticing, here are the two books mentioned and a link giving more explanation of the Examen.
