Behind the Pages
Writing Breaking the Surface
Inviting God into the Shallows and the Depths of Your Mind
Awhile back, I had a conversation with a friend where we debated whether or not it was easier for me to have faith in God because of the quirky way my brain works—that is, I tend to see God’s hand at work often throughout the day, whereas my friend does not. Our conversation made me realize that not everyone’s brain connects spiritual things together the way mine does. This was news to me—and it made we wonder what part of this “gift” of faith was inborn and what was learned. The more I mentally tossed around this topic, the more I realized how important “touchstones” are to my spiritual life…the shell I picked up right after I gave my life to Christ, the tattoo I have of a purple wildflower to remind me of how God sees me, the stones I keep in my guest room that are engraved with words of encouragement for visitors take home with them as reminders of what God revealed to them during their time at my home in Phoenix. When I talked to other Christians about how I use spiritual touchstones in my life, and how they help me set my mind more consistently on “things above,” they wanted to know more about how to incorporate this idea into their own spiritual journeys. Hence, the first glimmer of an idea for Breaking the Surface was born.
But, while I often have a deep sense of God’s presence and involvement in everyday life, at the same time I’ve found God to be what I call “a slippery fish.” That is, every time I feel like I have a fairly good grasp on who God really is and how He works in this world, He slips right out of the mental box I’ve tried to contain Him in. I’ve come to call this the “big God, small brain dilemma.” How can we understand, let alone have a relationship with, a God who is ultimately beyond our comprehension?
For me, the challenge of Colossians 3:2 to “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things,” is a daily struggle. I can’t relate to God and “things above” the way I do most everything else—through with my five senses. In addition, I’m frequently forgetful and distracted. Purposefully setting my mind on anything for an extended period of time takes both intention and focus. And I don’t believe I’m alone in this struggle.
That’s why I wrote Breaking the Surface. I believe most Christians share the same struggle I do as they long to relate on a deeper level with a God who is beyond their senses and comprehension. In my own life, I’ve found that one way to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2) comes from forging, and reinforcing, neural connections in my brain. This all sounds rather scientific, but basically it just means using repetition and relevance to imprint “things above” more securely in our minds.
In Breaking the Surface, I share with readers how touchstones, aide memoirs that bring God’s presence to mind throughout the day, can help us set our minds on things above more consistently, especially when “earthly things” loom large and urgent. My goal is to help readers take a fresh look at God-given touchstones, such as baptism and communion, adopt personal touchstones into their lives with the help of Philippians 4:8, and gain a clearer understanding of how they can become touchstones for others—“living stones” that point the way toward heaven.