In some counseling and recovery circles, the acronym HALT is used, standing for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired. Living in the world we do— and living the full lives we do—it’s understandable if you feel hungry or angry, lonely or tired at times. HALT is a helpful self-awareness exercise. Slow down long enough to pay attention to what is going on within you. Check in with yourself. Do you need to eat a good meal? Do you need to prioritize sleep? Those questions aren’t just for elementary-age kids. Are we feeling lonely or angry? How might we cultivate a little more connection? A little more ease and gentleness? If we’re just going through the motions, if we’re caught up in the daily grind, we are less likely to notice those moments of delight and joy. “God winks”, as some have described it. If we’re not paying attention, we’re also more likely to gravitate towards less than healthy choices. But if we HALT, we’ll be in a better position to care for ourselves and one another. And maybe, just maybe, an extraordinary moment will catch us by surprise, filling us with a sense of wonder, and renewing our spirits.
Sunday in worship, I shared a prayer card inviting us to begin and end the day with intentional time to reflect, remember, and pray. I developed the card, and our creative communications team made it a really beautiful and lovely reminder to begin and end each day with God. If you didn’t receive one yet, more will be available in worship this weekend, and you can also find a copy of it below.
What a joy to be your pastor!
Teresa
