This is a VIDEO podcast with host Michelle Funk and guest Amy Oden, a distinguished speaker, author and teacher around Christian mindfulness.  Whether we find ourselves at a frenetic pace, or at a screeching halt, mindfulness is one of the best practices for managing the racing thoughts that try to overtake us especially in the midst of worry, chaos, and the ever-advancing pressure to “figure it all out”. Mindfulness includes taking a moment to slow down the “mental mixtape”, breathing in and out, and focusing our energy on noticing our surroundings while choosing gratitude for all that’s around us. 

Welcome to a spin-off What Matters, a video podcast vlog for current times taking a look inward at unique experiences, upward for divine direction, and outward at God’s activity in the world. With the Covid-19 pandemic and shutting down / social distancing being the new normal, we want to create a way to connect with one another around topics affecting us in the NOW. New videos each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!

Links:

Amy Oden’s Website: https://www.amyoden.com

Amy Oden’s book: Right Here, Right Now: The Practice of Christian Mindfulness  

What Matters Podcast: audio episodes

Livestream Weekend Worship: Sat 5 pm, Sun 7, 9:15, 11 am and 5 pm

Daily Facebook Devotionals: Church of the Resurrection Pastors

Tuesday Night Vespers: Rev. Adam Hamilton’s Facebook Page

Show Notes:

Highlights the importance of Christian mindfulness, even more so in the NOW. “It’s a particularly important time to stop, really listen and take note of how God is speaking to us”

We’re not called as Christians to run and hide, even as we may feel overwhelmed in the middle of this pandemic, wherever the “stay at home” order has placed us

Due to society being on social media overload, taking in all the headlines, we’re wired / conditioned to simply react

First steps to mindfulness: Cleaning out all the muck and mess, but once the house is cleaned out, it’s important to replenish

Breath prayers, notice breath, breathe in, breathe out. historically it’s involved holding a word in our minds and hearts, one on the inhale, one on the exhale

Give ourselves a break from our own “mental mixtape”… when that tries to take over, pushing back and letting the “planning / doing” part take a back seat 

Can adapt daily, even using specific people we may be thinking about

Breath prayer helps us make it simple, try to inhale and exhale with these words: “here | now” or  “calm | down”

Notice something small, a kid on a bike, the weather outside around us, light coming in through our windows

In the moment of awareness, gratitude starts to take over

It truly will start to take over your mind, simply doing it once a day