Thought chart

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Last Sunday, our pastor presented a question: If you could summarise in a pie chart what you think about, then what size slice would be dedicated to the Lord?

The initial reaction was ‘not much’! Because the amount of time each day that is spent only thinking about the Lord feels like about 5 minutes… however, on reflection, if the pie chart was a Venn diagram, it may be easier! Because thoughts overlap.


However, the challenge was useful to reflect on my current dominant focus. Is it on my feelings? Yes. Do these thoughts overlap with prayer to God? Yes, quite a lot. But there is always room to grow. 

A well-worn path (e.g. Hierarchy of Need, Blooming marvellous break posts), but refreshed for today’s musing: Here in Syria, some of the needs of my soul are not met in the way that they are in ‘normal’ life at home.

The result is that my thought life is operating along a narrow path. The mental freedom that usually allows me to think about lots of other things and people is restricted, and my thoughts seem to be limited only to acknowledging and processing my own feelings.

When we go on holiday or go home, my mind quickly shifts back into normal mode, and on occasion, it even shifts back in Syria. For example, following an intense meeting last week, I felt my mind suddenly unlock into normal mode for about half an hour.

Whether in normal mode or not, there is always the opportunity to grow in love for God, and in giving more time and thought to God. There are always more opportunities to pray and invite God into every thought – regardless of their subject – enabling this overlap to occur more and more. 
 
(Side note: I am grateful to have experienced the love of God over these months of working away from home, with a narrowed thought life. Many people struggle with aspects of their thought life, and the challenges posed to me while living away have been centered here. It is not a bad experience to empathise more with others who may also feel trapped in their mind.)

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