slow Brain

Monday March 16

2 KGS 5:1-15AB; LK 4:24-30

Note: Let me start by saying that while I will continue to post every day about the scriptures of the day, I am aware that we are all trying to address the impacts of the coronavirus on our lives.  There is an inherent tension between trying to just do ‘business as usual’ and focus on the everchanging state of things resulting from the pandemic.

Many of us have been and will continue to be deeply impacted by the restrictions on travel and socializing let alone the impacts of the virus itself.  Please be sure to follow recommended protocols, check in on one another, tell people what you need (or reach out to folks) and continue to find ways to connect and find joy.  And if you are out in stores, please remember the mandate from Exodus 16 to “take only what you need” to make sure that there is enough for all who need it.

If it helps, make comments in the blog and let us know what you’re thinking or reflecting on these days.  We will get through this together, but it also may get more difficult in the next few weeks.  Wishing you blessings in these challenging times.

In the readings for today, I notice that a lot of people are very reactive.  The king of Israel tears his garments when he reads the letter. Elisha the prophet says to him, “Hey, hey…slow down…” Naaman the Syrian is outraged at being “sent away” with a prescription rather than a healing.  But his servants say, “Hey, hey…slow down.”  And in the gospel, after Jesus tells a story the crowd wants to stone him (but there’s no one there to say, “Hey, hey…slow down”).

We live in a very reactive culture these days.

Some people call it our “fast brain” – the lower part of our brain that screens for threats in the environment.  When there’s a threat, that’s a really good part of the brain to have online and available.  But that part of the brain can actually misfire or suggest a threat when there isn’t one at all.   And when that happens, generally it’s not a good situation.

One thing I want to clarify.  Emotions (and feelings) are different from reactivity in my mind.  We all have emotions/feelings that can result from the situations that we’re in.  Emotions and feelings are a source of great wisdom and information. But the strong reactions we witness do not necessarily need to happen in the way they do.

In today’s readings the king of Israel, Naaman and the crowd all have strong reactions which actually, if followed, would have undermined a wider good from emerging.  I suspect that this is true in our lives as well.  Our reactions to people or events change the course of things and prevent something from happening (even something we may have wanted or would be beneficial for us).

We also see that in the reading from Kings, each situation was diffused by a person counseling the reactive person to pause for a moment.  Notice, however, that they were not telling them not to have the feelings that they felt.  Instead, they just asked the person to pause and consider wider options.  When our lower brain is in control, it doesn’t consider possibilities.  It locks onto one way (and very quickly).  Our slower brain considers options and tries to make the best choice with the given information.

The crowd in the gospel does much the same.  They are confronted with information that triggers a threat response.  They lock onto the idea that Jesus is the problem.

How would you assess your reactivity?  Are there some areas of your life where you notice a greater degree of reactivity or defensiveness?  Are there any situations where you need to make amends to someone for a reaction you had?  Does your presence help others decrease their reactivity?

We could spend a lot more time reflecting on reactivity and the faith life.  For today, just notice all of the times when you get defensive or react quickly to something.  Pause.  Breathe.  Try to engage your slower brain to make a decision that is beneficial for you and those around you.