{"id":33650,"date":"2020-03-03T22:20:21","date_gmt":"2020-03-03T22:20:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/adrianwarnock\/?p=33650"},"modified":"2020-06-22T14:11:20","modified_gmt":"2020-06-22T13:11:20","slug":"coronavirus-christian-mindfulness-and-meditation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/adrianwarnock\/2020\/03\/coronavirus-christian-mindfulness-and-meditation\/","title":{"rendered":"Coronavirus, Christian Mindfulness, and Meditation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Are you anxious about Coronovirus? Or are there other things weighing you down? Are you looking for new ways to cope with the stress of ordinary life? Perhaps you are somehow bumbling along just about managing but underneath you know your rushing around and over-extended lifestyle is ultimately unsustainable.<\/strong> Are you getting close to burnout?<\/p>\n

For many people either their own situation or an international concern like the current epidemic suddenly punctures their sense of safety and security. Is anybody really as safe as we like to imagine we are? Actually according to the Bible having our eyes open to how short our lives are is the route to wisdom.We are like the grass that quickly withers away (1 Peter 1:24-25). \u00a0 Since in ordinary times we never think about our own impending death perhaps that is one reason why wisdom is in such short supply today.<\/p>\n

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\u201cTeach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.\u201d
\n\u202d\u202d(Psalms\u202c \u202d90:12,\u202c \u202dNIV)<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n

People who have faced their mortality due to a life-threatening diagnosis often feel rather alone. Our Western culture spends most of the time trying to forget our frailty, and pretending that we will live if not for ever at least for a very long time. Suddenly with the rate the coronavirus is spreading many healthy people are experiencing health anxiety<\/strong>. \u00a0We don\u2019t know whether this global pandemic will as some point fizzle out or if we are dealing with a major event that will go down in history like some sort of modern plague.<\/p>\n

For some of us whether it is simply the day to day worries of work or family life, or a significant season of personal suffering, or indeed a national or international crisis we allow ourselves to become burdened. \u00a0We try and solve all the problems we see. \u00a0We try to be a saviour. \u00a0Essentially we are trying to be God.<\/strong> \u00a0You are not as much of an expert as you think you are. \u00a0I too am certainly not a font of knowledge or wisdom. \u00a0Truth is there is much that we need to somehow learn to butt our noses out of and leave to those who\u2019s job it is to think about such high matters.<\/p>\n

This constant sense of agitation which last year was all about Brexit for us Brits, and this year for the world seems to be largely about Coronavirus has many of us trying to carry burdens we are simply not designed to carry.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is natural to be anxious at times<\/strong> and it is not a sin. \u00a0But we are encouraged to cast our burdens onto Jesus who cares for us. \u00a0We might have to do that several times a day.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Christian Mindfulness and meditation is one tool we can use to learn to still our minds and focus on the presence of Jesus<\/strong>, learning to trust him.<\/p>\n

I have recorded a video conversation with Richard Johnston the founder of ChristianMindfulness.co.uk<\/a>\u00a0today in which we discuss these matters. \u00a0I hope you will enjoy it.<\/p>\n

Are you anxious about Coronavirus? Want to do a digital detox? Struggling with poor health, \u00a0anxiety or \u00a0depression? Or are you just stuck in the rat race? What is all the fuss about \u00a0mindfulness and \u00a0meditation? Can it be Christian? Watch a new web interview with Rich Johnston of Christian Mindfulness. You can read the transcript<\/a>, or listen as a podcast<\/a>\u00a0on your favourite platform or watch on\u00a0YouTube<\/a>.<\/h3>\n