May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD. (Psalm 104:34, NIV)
How slow is a snail slogging through molasses?
Wait for it.
Wait for it.
Not quite as slow as Jason Dufner over a tap-in putt.
(And now you know why you had to wait for it.)
Honestly, I truly enjoyed watching Dufner win the PGA Championship on Sunday. Like Mickelson’s at the Open Championship, this was a major win secured with a brilliant final round—not one protected or fallen into amidst an impossible pressure cooker.
But it was a wonder of sorts to see a man stand over tiny putt after tiny putt. And stand over them. And stand over them. He was, it seemed, meditating. When Jonas Blixt rapped in his 12-incher at the last with no hesitation between his step to the ball and his stroke, I was reminded of what we call normal. Dufner is not normal. He steadies himself, for as long as it takes.
The beauty in watching this all afternoon is that I was reminded, truly reminded, of just what meditation is supposed to be like. It is a steadying, a founding. Forget the rush of normal. Wait until you’ve got it right.
More than one Hebrew word has been translated into English as meditate. But we find similarities in their definitions—musing and thinking are chief among those ideas. Deeper still, we find evidence of mumbling as a characteristic of meditation, as one might repeat a truth again and again until it sinks in.
So what if you began to read the Bible this way? There is purpose in zipping through the Bible in wholesale fashion, that you might catch the sweep of Scripture and review essential passages. But there is great power in reading slowly, even quite slowly, allowing the words of God to cleanse your spirit, captivate your mind, grip your heart, and govern your life.
Start with one grand passage, maybe Isaiah 51:12-16 or 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Then stay there. Resist every temptation to move on. Keep getting all you can from the living, active word of God. Maybe this isn’t “normal,” but you’ll find it’s very, very good.
—
Jeff Hopper
August 13, 2013
Copyright 2013 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.