Bishop Scott Benhase of Georgia makes an interesting point in his column on Duke Divinity School’s Call and Response blog. Given research that shows that more we multitask, the worse we become at it. Perhaps Lent takes on more urgency for leaders.
“I think leadership in our churches suffers, if not from multitasking itself, certainly from the spirit of multitasking. Like Martha in Luke 10:41-42a (‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part.’), we become so distracted by the busyness of leadership that we do not make the time to think reflectively and prayerfully on our life and actions. It is not that we do not have the time. Of course we do. It is that we often lack the courage to live into such a direct, prayerful, and reflective relationship with God.
In her new book, ‘In Your Holy Spirit,’ Michelle Heyne addresses the five traditional spiritual practices (Weekly Eucharist, Daily Prayer, Reflection, Community and Service). Her chapter on reflection is the one I found most valuable because it is the one practice we often neglect in our multitasked, Blackberried, and instant-messaged culture. Heyne challenges us to have the courage to live, act, and pray differently.
As leaders of the church, we need to step back, gain perspective, listen to others, and spend time in solitude so we can think reflectively and prayerfully. Such reflective time is a necessary precursor to right actions. We must be able to think and see clearly before we can lead and act faithfully. In Mark 8:23-25, we read, ‘Jesus laid hands on the blind man and asked: ‘Can you see anything?’ And the man looked up and said, ‘I can see people, but they look like trees walking.’ Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.’”
Full article here.