Answering ‘What do you mean by that?’

Editor’s note: This is a reprinted column from Jack Purcell’s “On the Journey” archives. It originally appeared in The Star in 2013.

The response to the question used in the headline sometimes comes back to another question, such as, Why didn’t you hear what I meant?

The English language leaves room for potential misunderstandings which can be even more complicated with facial expressions, body language and tone of voice.

These are all reasons why emails and telephone conversations sometimes scare me. They leave so much room for assumption, which can sometimes lead to damaged relationships.

When I was growing up in church back during the dark ages, there was a pretty common belief among evangelicals that one should stay away from any kind of meditation. The perception being that meditation was undoubtedly a first cousin to transcendental meditation, which was, of course, sponsored by the devil himself (tongue in cheek).

It is always interesting to observe how long it takes the church to get over dogma, false beliefs or misguided doctrine. It is often the modern church’s version of Old Testament law.

It’s a safe bet to conclude that there was a scriptural basis for banishing meditation to the gurus, but was it considered in the light of all scripture?

The meaning of meditate is to reflect upon, ponder or contemplate. One would hope this is a common practice of all believers of the Gospel. In fact, it was occurring regularly when it was frowned upon, it just wasn’t called meditation.

We have come a long way since then, yet today more Christians take medication than do meditation, which is probably why vast numbers of believers still don’t know God in a way that brings them a great deal of freedom.

Many are trying to live life from the lies they have come to believe about themselves and the God they worship.

Let me give you a safe definition and practice of meditation that has the potential to change the way you experience the Christian life.

Give yourself permission to set down your study Bible and get a good modern translation suitable for meditation. My favorite is the Message by Eugene Peterson. Now, find a comfortable place where it is quiet and start with the first two verses from Ephesians chapter 5.

“Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.”

I think if you read this scripture every day for a week and let it soak into your mind and heart and ask God to speak to you about your response to it, you might be guilty of meditating – and that would be a good thing.

You may be like some of my friends who find it very difficult to sit quietly before God and wait for him to speak to you. If that is true, don’t worry about it or count yourself as spiritually deficient. Just begin the practice of taking a verse or two from Scripture and reading it several times until God has a chance to speak to you that way if he so chooses.

If you are still uncomfortable with meditating then just sit and soak. I’m trusting you’re going to like the results.