Too Many Minds

Recently I was watching the movie “The Last Samurai” starring Tom Cruise. In the movie, Cruise’s character finds himself among the Samurai, training in their ancient warfare practices. At one point he states, “I have never seen such discipline.”

In the scene that follows, Cruise is shown training but is struggling to learn the ancient art. A young man runs out to him after he is knocked to the ground by his opponent, telling Cruise, “Too many minds!” Cruise is puzzled by this statement so the young man explains that he is thinking of too many external factors. He encourages him to be solely focused on what matters - that which is immediately in front of him. He tells him to be present to that one thing in order to accomplish the mission.

Sound familiar? It did, and does, to me. I often find myself distracted from the immediate, preoccupied with “too many minds.” Our lives are increasingly being lived at high velocity and with greater amounts of clutter. We have forgotten how to “Be still and know that He is God.” (Psalm 46:10) But if we can somehow slow down and strip away that clutter, we can focus on what really matters.

In the Christian life, learning ancient practices of spiritual discipline help us focus on what really matters. These spiritual practices posture our heart in a way that allows Christ to be formed in us (Galatians 4:19). Daily times in the Word, a life of prayer, regular participation in communion, consistent acts of service, silence, solitude, fasting, times of retreat or pilgrimage and other disciplines are critical to our continued growth in Christ. Without them, our opponent too easily knocks us to the ground.

These spiritual practices help us draw aside with God, teaching us how to find him in every aspect of life. The disciplines provide a door to discovering so much more about ourselves, each other, God and His ways. And it doesn’t stop there – we seek to live out these disciplines by rolling up our sleeves and serving the needs of the surrounding community.

My encouragement to you is to take to heart the words of Jeremiah 6:16: “Stand at the Crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it and you will find rest for your souls.”