Keeping Our Center ~ Day 47

I looked around my office for inspiration yesterday and pulled a new book out of my “books to read” pile called “The Art of Is,” by Stephen Nachmanovitch, an internationally known improvisational violinist. And the book is wonderful!

This is dating me, but I think it was Hannibal Smith from “The A Team” who said, “I love it when a plan comes together.” This is what we want (myself included)… for all things to run perfectly the way we want them to all the time. Taken to the extreme, it is this need that creates micromanagers, Bridezillas, control freaks and we’ve-never-done-it-that-way-before (therefore we can’t do anything new now) folks.

But life just doesn’t work that way, as this virus is clearly teaching us. Nachmanovitch says, “Improvising is life itself” and “come prepared, but be willing to accept interruptions and invitations.” We do the best we can do, but allow ourselves to be flexible and roll with the changes without getting too stressed, angry or frustrated. This is easier said than done, sometimes. But if our mantra became, “Life is improvising,” how might that change our response to those things that derail our planning?

Honestly, I’ve found that there can be true power in improvising. When we hold a tight rein, it doesn’t give the Spirit room to move and we risk missing potentially wonderful things. Preaching off a manuscript is like that for me. I used a written sermon when I was first starting off, but now find that even when I use it to cheat a little, I become stiff and too formal because the message can’t flow where it needs to. Mind you, I prepare like crazy now, but then I say a prayer right before I preach that I’ll open enough to be a conduit for the Spirit. Please God, don’t let me get in the way!  Some of my best sermons have had more improve than you realize. But, by definition, you can’t plan improv. There is a level of trust and faith in our own creativity and in the Spirit that develops over time. When I’m stuck trying to write, I often remind myself that God hasn’t let me down, yet (though even then I sometimes get the jitters… what if this is the first time?)

I know all of us have had plans interrupted and probably face all kinds of different challenges during this time. But I also see so many amazing ways that people are improvising and finding meaningful, productive ways to continue on.

Hang in there, trust, and remember, life is improvising!

Love & Light!

Kaye