1 00:00:02,710 --> 00:00:07,820 Speaker 1: Life Audio There are moments in the spiritual life when 2 00:00:07,900 --> 00:00:11,880 Speaker 1: something small catches our attention and quietly lingers. A phrase, 3 00:00:11,900 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 1: a line, a handful of words that don't demand anything 4 00:00:15,180 --> 00:00:17,900 Speaker 1: from us, yet somehow they stay close as if they're 5 00:00:17,940 --> 00:00:20,740 Speaker 1: waiting for us to notice them more fully. And not 6 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:23,689 Speaker 1: because they're complicated, but because they are simple enough to 7 00:00:23,770 --> 00:00:28,410 Speaker 1: enter slowly. And sometimes it is in these quieter invitations 8 00:00:28,450 --> 00:00:30,210 Speaker 1: that we find a way of being with God that 9 00:00:30,310 --> 00:00:35,550 Speaker 1: feels less driven. and more alive. Hi friends, I'm Jem Fadling, 10 00:00:35,650 --> 00:00:38,669 Speaker 1: and this is the Unhurried Living Podcast, where we inspire 11 00:00:38,710 --> 00:00:42,470 Speaker 1: you to rest deeper, live fuller, and lead better. Today 12 00:00:42,490 --> 00:00:44,130 Speaker 1: I want to share something that has stayed with me 13 00:00:44,210 --> 00:00:47,490 Speaker 1: over the past few years, something that feels both ancient 14 00:00:47,750 --> 00:00:51,330 Speaker 1: and surprisingly personal. It comes from the life and words 15 00:00:51,390 --> 00:00:54,090 Speaker 1: of St. Clair of Assisi, and it offers a way 16 00:00:54,150 --> 00:00:57,610 Speaker 1: of relating to Jesus that is not rushed or forced, 17 00:00:58,010 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: but attentive and deeply relational. After a word from our sponsor, 18 00:01:03,420 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: we'll dive into our conversation for today. As you're listening 19 00:01:13,100 --> 00:01:15,220 Speaker 1: to this podcast, I'd love for you to follow us. 20 00:01:15,580 --> 00:01:18,420 Speaker 1: And if you're watching on YouTube, please subscribe. It's all 21 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:21,740 Speaker 1: free and it helps Unhurried Living be discovered by more people. 22 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 1: Thanks so much. Since co-leading a pilgrimage for women to 23 00:01:25,830 --> 00:01:28,250 Speaker 1: Italy quite a few times, I've spent some time getting 24 00:01:28,290 --> 00:01:31,940 Speaker 1: to know St. Clair of Assisi. She was quite formidable 25 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:34,180 Speaker 1: in her passion and her love for God and what 26 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: that meant for her own soul and those around her. 27 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 1: In Elio Delio's book, Claire of Assisi, I found a 28 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:43,959 Speaker 1: snippet Claire wrote in a letter to her sister, Agnes. 29 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:49,460 Speaker 1: Here's what she said. A most noble queen. Gaze upon him, 30 00:01:49,860 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: consider him, contemplate him as you desire to imitate him. Now, 31 00:01:55,340 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 1: of course, in this passage, the queen is her sister, Agnes, 32 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: which is very sweet. But the hymn is Jesus, and 33 00:02:02,220 --> 00:02:06,980 Speaker 1: she says, Gaze upon him, consider him, contemplate him, as 34 00:02:07,030 --> 00:02:10,630 Speaker 1: you desire to imitate him. And of course, four words 35 00:02:10,770 --> 00:02:17,130 Speaker 1: leapt off the page as I read this. Gaze, consider, contemplate, imitate. 36 00:02:18,010 --> 00:02:21,710 Speaker 1: These four dynamics are compelling imitations in my relationship with 37 00:02:21,790 --> 00:02:25,660 Speaker 1: God that, if followed, could lead to much fruit that lasts, 38 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:29,060 Speaker 1: which Jesus spoke of in John 15. So let's take 39 00:02:29,100 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: a brief look at each of these four dynamics. I'll 40 00:02:32,139 --> 00:02:35,100 Speaker 1: share a scripture and then just a few thoughts on 41 00:02:35,139 --> 00:02:39,020 Speaker 1: each one. So let's start with gaze. And for this, 42 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:42,490 Speaker 1: I like to look at Psalm 27, verse 4, and 43 00:02:42,530 --> 00:02:45,389 Speaker 1: it says, One thing I ask from the Lord, this 44 00:02:45,610 --> 00:02:48,390 Speaker 1: only do I seek, that I may dwell in the 45 00:02:48,450 --> 00:02:50,690 Speaker 1: house of the Lord all the days of my life, 46 00:02:51,070 --> 00:02:53,750 Speaker 1: to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to 47 00:02:53,830 --> 00:02:58,230 Speaker 1: seek him in his temple. Gazing feels like a lost art, 48 00:02:58,290 --> 00:03:00,950 Speaker 1: don't you think? When was the last time you gazed 49 00:03:01,330 --> 00:03:05,130 Speaker 1: at someone or something? When I ponder the idea of gazing, 50 00:03:05,169 --> 00:03:07,109 Speaker 1: the first image that comes to mind is the way 51 00:03:07,150 --> 00:03:09,350 Speaker 1: a new parent holds and looks into the eyes of 52 00:03:09,389 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: their newborn. The inexplicable wonder of a fresh, new, little being. 53 00:03:16,340 --> 00:03:18,540 Speaker 1: I remember staring into the eyes of each of my 54 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 1: sons as newborns. There is an intensity to this kind 55 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:26,660 Speaker 1: of seeing. It's a taking in. It's a deep connection. 56 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:30,060 Speaker 1: And this verse talks about gazing on the beauty of 57 00:03:30,100 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 1: the Lord. What might it look like in everyday life? 58 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: This gazing is actually a posture of heart, a stillness 59 00:03:38,100 --> 00:03:42,290 Speaker 1: in God's presence. It's a beholding. And the wonder here 60 00:03:42,410 --> 00:03:45,230 Speaker 1: is that we are simply mirroring back the loving gaze 61 00:03:45,650 --> 00:03:49,390 Speaker 1: that is already being directed at us. So how might 62 00:03:49,470 --> 00:03:53,410 Speaker 1: gazing become a part of your connection with God? Well, 63 00:03:53,430 --> 00:03:57,260 Speaker 1: let's move on to consider. This is Psalm 8, verses 64 00:03:57,260 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 1: 3 and 4. When I consider your heavens, the work 65 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 1: of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you 66 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:05,580 Speaker 1: have set in place, what is mankind that you are 67 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:09,940 Speaker 1: mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? Well, 68 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:13,170 Speaker 1: David is considering that which he sees with his eyes, 69 00:04:13,250 --> 00:04:16,830 Speaker 1: the grand landscape of the universe. He can't fathom a 70 00:04:16,930 --> 00:04:19,150 Speaker 1: being who could create the heavens, the moon and the 71 00:04:19,210 --> 00:04:22,109 Speaker 1: stars and can still find a place in his heart 72 00:04:22,250 --> 00:04:25,170 Speaker 1: for human beings. As well, it's a moment of overwhelm 73 00:04:25,210 --> 00:04:30,490 Speaker 1: and praise. To consider is to think carefully about. What 74 00:04:30,510 --> 00:04:32,610 Speaker 1: might it look like for you to think carefully about 75 00:04:32,650 --> 00:04:35,630 Speaker 1: what God has made? Then add to that the beautiful 76 00:04:35,650 --> 00:04:38,540 Speaker 1: and humbling idea that God made and cares for you. 77 00:04:39,339 --> 00:04:42,260 Speaker 1: Consider this and allow it to lead you to praise 78 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:45,779 Speaker 1: as well. Well, let's move on to the idea of contemplate. 79 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:49,789 Speaker 1: This is Ephesians 1 verse 18. I pray that the 80 00:04:49,970 --> 00:04:52,010 Speaker 1: eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that 81 00:04:52,070 --> 00:04:54,530 Speaker 1: you may know the hope to which he has called you, 82 00:04:54,550 --> 00:04:58,670 Speaker 1: the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people. 83 00:04:59,470 --> 00:05:03,150 Speaker 1: The word contemplate means to look at attentively and thoughtfully. 84 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,380 Speaker 1: I'd like to draw a line from contemplation directly to 85 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:10,580 Speaker 1: the word enlightened in this verse. Contemplation is one way 86 00:05:10,660 --> 00:05:14,500 Speaker 1: our hearts might be enlightened toward hope. I'd like to 87 00:05:14,540 --> 00:05:19,780 Speaker 1: think that contemplation is the next movement beyond consider. Consider 88 00:05:19,820 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 1: involves the head while contemplation moves us to the heart. 89 00:05:24,540 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 1: Allow the eyes of your heart to open wider to 90 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 1: the riches of God. And now we come to imitate. 91 00:05:31,350 --> 00:05:35,270 Speaker 1: And for this, I'm turning to Matthew 11, 28. Come 92 00:05:35,330 --> 00:05:37,910 Speaker 1: to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and 93 00:05:38,070 --> 00:05:40,830 Speaker 1: I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you 94 00:05:40,930 --> 00:05:43,409 Speaker 1: and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble 95 00:05:43,450 --> 00:05:45,910 Speaker 1: in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 96 00:05:46,330 --> 00:05:48,990 Speaker 1: For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 97 00:05:50,130 --> 00:05:52,350 Speaker 1: If you've been following Unhurried Living for long, you won't 98 00:05:52,390 --> 00:05:55,910 Speaker 1: be surprised by my choice of this verse. There are 99 00:05:56,010 --> 00:05:59,150 Speaker 1: many ways for us to follow the example of Jesus. 100 00:05:59,230 --> 00:06:01,750 Speaker 1: The Gospels are full of stories of the ways Jesus 101 00:06:01,810 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 1: modeled for us an abundant and compassionate life. One area 102 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:09,140 Speaker 1: in which I can always use some encouragement is around hurry. 103 00:06:09,700 --> 00:06:13,119 Speaker 1: Jesus invites us to come to him, especially the weary 104 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: and burdened. Come. Come. Jesus said he is gentle and 105 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:20,979 Speaker 1: humble in heart. These are qualities to receive and then imitate, 106 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:27,460 Speaker 1: especially in our increasingly distracted, anxious, and lonely culture. Let's 107 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:30,860 Speaker 1: imitate Jesus and become people of peace, a soft place 108 00:06:30,900 --> 00:06:33,580 Speaker 1: for others to land when they are in our presence. 109 00:06:34,410 --> 00:06:37,510 Speaker 1: Rest for your souls is much needed, and I'm sure 110 00:06:37,589 --> 00:06:40,690 Speaker 1: you feel that need as well. Did you notice that 111 00:06:40,730 --> 00:06:46,219 Speaker 1: all these terms— gaze, consider, contemplate, imitate— are all in relationship 112 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:49,900 Speaker 1: with God. We don't enact these verbs in a vacuum 113 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:54,370 Speaker 1: or all by ourselves. We are gazing upon God, considering 114 00:06:54,430 --> 00:07:00,029 Speaker 1: God's vast goodness, contemplating God's generosity through hope, and then 115 00:07:00,210 --> 00:07:04,750 Speaker 1: imitating the ways of Jesus. What a wonderful set of 116 00:07:04,790 --> 00:07:08,859 Speaker 1: invitations to greater connection with our loving Creator. I hope 117 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:11,300 Speaker 1: you'll review these again, looking for ways to make them 118 00:07:11,340 --> 00:07:15,490 Speaker 1: a part of your spiritual practice. So before you go, 119 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:18,950 Speaker 1: let me offer you three simple ways to begin living 120 00:07:19,030 --> 00:07:21,730 Speaker 1: into this. Choose the one that strikes you and give 121 00:07:21,770 --> 00:07:26,050 Speaker 1: it a try today or this week. So first, choose 122 00:07:26,090 --> 00:07:28,170 Speaker 1: one of the words to carry with you this week. 123 00:07:28,770 --> 00:07:32,750 Speaker 1: Let it accompany you in your quieter moments and notice 124 00:07:32,770 --> 00:07:37,390 Speaker 1: what begins to happen. Second, give yourself a small pocket 125 00:07:37,420 --> 00:07:40,020 Speaker 1: of space each day, even just a few minutes, where 126 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 1: you're not trying to accomplish anything. Simply notice God's presence 127 00:07:43,580 --> 00:07:49,620 Speaker 1: and allow yourself to be there. Hold the posture of gaze, consider, contemplate, 128 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:54,820 Speaker 1: and imitate. Third, pay attention to one interaction in your 129 00:07:54,870 --> 00:07:59,630 Speaker 1: day where you might overflow in holy imitation. Focused presence 130 00:07:59,830 --> 00:08:03,970 Speaker 1: or a heartfelt response. Maybe a little more patience than usual. 131 00:08:03,990 --> 00:08:08,190 Speaker 1: You never know. These invitations aren't meant to be rushed. 132 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:12,810 Speaker 1: They're meant to be lived with and in. And over time, quietly, 133 00:08:12,820 --> 00:08:15,630 Speaker 1: they begin to shape the way we see, the way 134 00:08:15,690 --> 00:08:24,950 Speaker 1: we respond, and even the way we love. So, gaze, consider, contemplate, imitate. 135 00:08:25,630 --> 00:08:27,930 Speaker 1: You may find that as you return to them, they 136 00:08:27,950 --> 00:08:30,810 Speaker 1: begin to feel less like something you're trying to do 137 00:08:31,250 --> 00:08:35,939 Speaker 1: and more like a way you're learning to be. Blessings 138 00:08:35,980 --> 00:08:39,950 Speaker 1: to you as you make your way. Thank you for 139 00:08:40,010 --> 00:08:42,809 Speaker 1: joining me on the Unhurried Living Podcast. You can download 140 00:08:42,870 --> 00:08:46,940 Speaker 1: free resources and learn more about us at unhurriedliving.com. And 141 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:50,179 Speaker 1: please subscribe and share this podcast with your friends and colleagues. 142 00:08:50,679 --> 00:08:53,200 Speaker 1: We'd also like to thank our partner, Life Audio. Check 143 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:57,470 Speaker 1: out their other faith-centered podcasts at lifeaudio.com. Blessings to you 144 00:08:57,710 --> 00:08:58,470 Speaker 1: as you make your way.