Baby Steps – A letter to fellow fractured friends

Dear fellow fractured friend,

I have been considering what you shared about your longing to learn to be present. You told me about how your family and friends know you aren’t available for them or to them because you are on the phone or your mind is racing with so many thoughts you can’t even hear their words or realize their presence. I am on my own journey to quiet my mind to learn to be present. You have been around long enough to know that I go, go, go and love to do, do, do especially when something big is at stake. It is my observation that you can’t acknowledge another’s presence until you are present yourself.

Helping you refine your own thinking is always preferred to advice but that is what I am sinking to so take it for what it is. I am not recommending anything for or to you, I am only sharing some of the small steps I am taking to learn the discipline of being still which is unbelievably hard and which I believe is antecedent to being present if it isn’t one in the same.

Baby Step 1 – I wear a bracelet with a word on it. that word is “listen”. It is antithetical to my natural wiring. I am learning to choose (and thus nurture) but I need a second by second reminder to do this first. I think I listen but I really listen to reply. listen to critique. listen to solve. listen to learn. listen to share MY very good thoughts.

I don’t really listen to understand or to love. The bracelet is my activation trigger. before I get on a call or even when alone. I just look at it and sort of prepare myself to pause and resist all response and listen.

I think your awareness of your need is so key. I pray you will find a practice of presence both with Christ and with your family that is a healing and holy place because that is only available in the present presence.

Thanks for sharing. My intent is to encourage you to keep trying and to celebrate any baby steps on this KEY mindset and practice. Be kind and keep trying, celebrating every baby step.