Every Second Counts: The Power of the Pause in Preaching & Life (A Guest Post)
The Rev. Eric L. Miller is a Backstory Preaching Mentor and Rector of Ascension & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Cincinnati, OH. Eric loves spending time with his family, including their rescue dog. He is passionate about the intersectionality of the priesthood and 12-step recovery.
“Pausing” isn’t just a feature on Netflix or YouTube.
It’s a powerful tool for preaching and life.
A tool those in recovery have practiced for generations to maintain sobriety.
“Pausing” helped my grandfather in his recovery.
And this practical and sacred act helps me today in my life of recovery.
The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous says, “As we go through the day we pause when agitated or doubtful, and ask for the right thought or action” (page 87).
Pausing and asking for the right thought or action helps us take a step back, reflect, and choose how to respond rather than react to a person, place, or institution.
Pausing to ask God for direction helps us remember we aren’t in charge, but we are responsible for our behaviors and actions.
Pausing long enough helps us get a healthier perspective so that our response might be one of love and trust.
The Power of the Pause for Preachers
What in the world does pausing have to do with preachers?
First, you are a human preaching among humans.
Vast oceans of humanity are addicted to something: alcohol, drugs, sex, food, control needs, shopping (online or in person), approval/people-pleasing, etc. The list could go on ad infinitum.
And vast oceans of humanity bump up against each other causing irritation, hurt, frustration, and confusion.
Once in the rooms of recovery, a sober person’s thinking becomes clearer, but we’re still prone to get agitated or doubtful—just like everyone.
12-Step recovery communities value the practice of pausing because they acknowledge sometimes our first thoughts aren’t necessarily our healthiest thoughts.
That’s true for anyone.
Feeling agitated?
Thinking about firing an email back? Or picking up your phone to scroll? Or grabbing your credit card for a soothing impulse buy?
Pause for a moment and play that thought completely through. One email/scroll/charge is never enough, and there’s always the guilt, shame, and remorse the next morning.
What would actually help in this moment?
Have your feelings been hurt?
Pause and step back from the experience.
Sure, own what you are feeling, but don’t allow that emotion to drive you to unhealthy thoughts and reactions.
Pause, turn it over to God, and ask for the next right thought or action.
Having a difficult time accepting life on life’s terms?
You don’t need to immediately respond.
Pause and give your mind, body, and heart some space for a clearer, kinder, more loving response.
The same “pause practice” can be applied to our preaching preparation
Pause to Reflect & Connect
How easy it is to get stuck in the proverbial rabbit hole of formative exegesis (meditatio) without giving ourselves time to let Holy Scripture percolate within (contemplatio).
Step back and pause.
Put the commentaries down. Put your Bible down. Close out your Bible app, and go for a walk.
Pause, and ask God to direct your thinking.
Allow yourself the gift of enough time and space to hear and experience God’s Word without the need to rush to conclusions about what you think needs preached.
Pause to Listen
Yes, praying lectio is important in our sermon preparation and our spirituality.
Reading, writing, praying, conversation about Scripture with others, commentary reading, listening to podcasts, and more are wonderful tools in our preaching toolkits.
But these are focused on our own or others’ words.
What is God’s word for us?
God has a message of hope and grace to share with God’s people through you, their preacher.
Most of us would do well to learn the practice of pausing to hear God’s holy word for us.
Many of us overlook the practice of pausing to rest and listen so that our hearts and minds might more readily and easily receive the gift of clarity.
Pause to Return to the Spirit
Pause long enough to remember we are already God’s beloved children, regardless of how effective we feel our Sunday sermons are.
Pause to be still, to be present with the Holy Spirit who loves us more than we could ever ask or imagine.
Pause so that our next preaching thought, our next preaching action may be a response to Scripture from a heart of abundant love.
Recent Grad?
You can build the power of the pause into your preaching life from the start.
And if you’d like support in establishing preaching and ministry rhythms and habits that will sustain you for the long-term, we invite you to consider our year-long coaching program, Transition & Thrive.
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