Verle Bell M.D.
[Originally published as Radical Mindfulness]
Remember the rule? If I want to know what godliness looks like, I just picture what I normally do, and then godliness will be pretty much the opposite!
So what is my normal state of mindfulness?
Well, not to be mindful at all!
I let my focus drift to the future, the past, and everywhere else. If I manage to pull my focus to the present, I tend to:
- Take for granted the good,
- Go round and round resenting the negative aspects,
- Picture and long for my present reality to be something else.
I think that if only I had more, then I would be happy. Then, even if I get more, I am still not happy because what I wanted is now what I have and I have trained my brain to take it for granted/resent it’s flaws/and wish for even more.
For example, these are common things we all can fall into the trap of rehearsing internally:
If only that person loved me or that one was my friend.
These people are selfish ungrateful electronic addicts who suck me dry and return nothing.
There is no point trying because I would just screw up everything.
I can’t do this or that, and since I’m doomed to failure, what is the point of trying.
The little I could do wouldn’t change anything, so why bother?
Look at me: I am unlovable, I wish I was someone else.
Radical Mindfulness
Instead of wallowing endlessly in the negatives and lack in my life, God calls me to take on a heavenly mindset by practically pulling my thoughts upward. Here are some key areas of focus God invites us to adopt as his children and heirs:
- What do I have? Let me savor it, thank God for it, take care of it, build it, invest in it, and share it with others. Be CONTENT for such things as I have Hebrews 13:15.
- Who is in my life? Let me learn from them, enjoy them, be glad to see them, encourage them, and seek their best interest. Show both friendly (phileo) and sacrificial (agape) LOVE.
- What can I do? I can move my body members as servants to God (Romans 6:13) according to a growing awareness of God’s principles in action (Philippians 4:9) and then delight in what God is able to make out of it (Psalm 68:28). Choose OBEDIENCE and TRUST God for the results.
- Who am I? Let me delight in God’s design and craftsmanship (Psalm 139:14) and how it ministers to others and allows me to be a useful part of the body (Romans 12:4–6), rejoicing in the gifts of others (1 Corinthians 12:20–25). WORSHIP God for his amazing design skills in me and all those around me.
The ideal situation for each of God’s children is for them to feel a little sorry for everyone else because they don’t get to be them, except that’s it’s pretty amazing to be the other person too! It’s great to like being who God made us to be and to also delight in his unique design of the others around them as well.
Such a viewpoint allows me to look at reality with God’s eyes that see the good and the evil but do not resent (go round and round on) the details.
Then, it’s time to seize the current moment with God’s help!
How to Seize the Moment
Problems: I accept myself and God’s sovereignty when I can’t fix a situation. After all, I know that no one will ever get away with sin, or God would be mocked. I am empowered to bless, minister to, and pray for those who curse and use me. I set limits on the problem when I can and fix what God enables me to.
People: I love on them and learn from them and encourage them in the Lord and set limits when I need to.
Tasks: I grab them with all my might (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
Then I ask: Is there anything else God wants me to do about this situation right now? If not, “Lord help me let go and grab the next piece of life, trusting you to work through and in everything.”
