ETERNAL HEART by Carl McColman -- Author Interview

I spent a reflective week reading Carl McColman’s wonderful new book, ETERNAL HEART, and he was kind enough to chat with me about it. I’ve attached the audio below, but wanted to share one of the practices that resonated with me. McColman talks about how fear can hold us back, and offers the lovely practice of praying the hopes that are hidden in those fears. As someone who has been struggling with anxiety, this practice has helped me look for not what worries me, but what God might desire for me. With chapters on Wisdom, Silence, Courage and many others, this book reminds us how to set internal priorities and trust the wisdom of our hearts — every heart!

If you want to hear Carl share more about contemplative wisdom, have a listen below! And buy his book — it’s wonderful!

The Great Commission.... Yours!

I am going to ask you to do something different. I am going ask you to imagine yourself in a place that is quiet, with little to distract you, a place where you feel comfortable, at home, at peace. This could be a room in your house, it could be a quiet space outside, it could be an adoration chapel, or a church, but should be a place that you can visit every day. This place is personal to you…imagine yourself there.

Now imagine that you make visiting this place a high priority in your daily life. You set an alarm for the same time every day. Nothing can keep you from this spot. You can spend a minute, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour, the choice is yours, but you need to be honest with yourself and consistent. This is the place and the time you are devoting to prayer. There is no greater power than the power of prayer and there is no greater love than the love you experience in your relationship with God. The time you spend praying and speaking to Christ has to become the centerpiece of your day. Everything else should flow from this.

I am going to give you a moment to imagine the place, look at your watch or a clock to imagine the time you are going to be there, imagine yourself in deep conversation with God. Imagine yourself feeling such peace.

 

Now imagine yourself out in the world. Imagine yourself feeling comfortable speaking to others about your faith, about your prayer life, about your relationship with Christ. There is no sense of fear. There are just words of love. Imagine finding that place that brings you such joy because you are helping others in need. There are so many volunteering opportunities, you find the one that really speaks to you and you jump right in and help however you are needed.

Prayer, speaking about your faith, helping others are all ways we can be witnesses to Gods love in this world.

The only way we can really claim to be disciples is to find what works best for us and be consistent with it. It is easy for our days to become so busy we forget to pray. It is easy for us to find a teaching moment but to not take it because we do not want to offend or to overstep. It is easy for us to say we just don’t have the time and let opportunities to help fall on the shoulders of others. I am asking you right now to dedicate yourself to making your faith the number one priority in your life. The great Commission of Jesus was not just to send those disciples he was speaking to out into the world, it was to send all of us. Imagine yourself praying, imagine yourself spreading the Gospel in words and in deeds. Imagine how your life can change and how you can change the lives of others too.                       -- Jackie Sullivan