As we continue part five of our series this week on finding a balance in life during the holidays, we continue to focus on what’s called ‘inward disciplines.’
Pastor Barry J. Keurulainen, Senior Pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church and School in Cabot, explained that both outward and inward disciplines are needed to find a true balance in life.
When we talked about outward disciplines, we discussed acts of public service and being with people in groups. We talked about inward disciplines where it’s important to seek solitude and silence.
“Solitude is when we pull away alone, but there can be noise. Silence is silence…you turn off the TV. You turn off the computer. You unplug,” Pastor Keurulainen says.
The final thought we covered about was fasting during the holiday season. Pastor Keurualinen says in ancient days it was used as a means to focus on God. He explained that when the hunger pangs struck from not eating food for a period of time, one was to then focus on prayer, the word and God. The same thought process holds the same for some today.
Another aspect of fasting, according to Pastor Keurulainen, could be fasting technology. He suggests that for a family, they can unplug, have a topic that the whole family can think of at the same time for about 30 seconds, and then ask for a discussion afterwards. He says, “Silence can build community is some strange and powerful ways.”
You can find St. Luke Lutheran, Cabot online at www.stlukecabot.org.
Written By: Tracey Morgan for the Butler Radio Network