"In 2009, the Ketchum Global Research Network asked 1,000 U.S.
adults (ages 25–54) what they think about the most while they shower. Here were
the top four responses:
1.
To-do lists
2.
Problems, worries
3.
Daydreams
4.
Work
What an interesting glimpse into what we obsess
over as we wake up in the morning or wind down in the evening—the two times
most of us take a shower."
In light of our experiment to begin and end each day with the short but powerful Chichester Prayer, I thought this little blurb of information I came across was very interesting. We think about what we have to do--we think about the potential and real problems we have to solve; we dream of what it would be like without those problems or that long to-do list, and we think about work. Nothing on the list surprises me as your average American male. Everything on the list depresses me as an average American Pastor.
Where is God? Where is love? (Maybe in the daydream, I suppose.) Where is the possibilities of the day in terms of sharing God's love and following God's Son? Where is the thoughtful evaluation of whether or not I have lived life to the fullest spiritually, emotionally, and relationally? I suppose they may be in there somewhere, but less than what would make me delighted as a spiritual leader and director.
I love Jesus. I really do. He drives me nuts; he's demanding; he's uncompromising; he's always butting in; but Jesus is also so compassionate and passionate about life as well as the power of love. This morning while I was showering it just came to me how much I do love Jesus. How much I want Jesus to be a part of my day. How I want to feel closer to him, how I want to interact robustly with him, how I want to walk with him wherever it is I am going today. And then I realized something that brought me great delight: I had internalized St. Richard's prayer. I didn't have to lug it out and pray it. I didn't have to tell myself what it was I wanted in terms of seeing, loving, and following Jesus. I just wanted it all on my own.
More than anything else in this experiment of praying this prayer every day and reflecting on it every evening I was more excited about what struck me in the shower this morning than anything else. I woke up wanting to see Jesus and love Jesus and follow Jesus. Not for my sake, not because it is the right thing to do, but because it was what I wanted to do more than anything else today.
As we begin to wind down this experiment and consider what kind of experience we've had--for good or for ill--I found myself inspired. I discovered what felt like drudgery some days had actually begun to take root and grow all on its own. My prayer for all of you who are joining me on this journey is that you might have the same experience. May your thoughts when you get out of bed in the morning and when you go to bed at night be filled with love for what God has done, is doing, and has promised to do for you in Christ Jesus.
