100523 Frank Laubach pp. 101-107

I first heard of Frank Laubach about 20 years ago when I volunteered as a literacy tutor in one of his programs. Although there must have been something in the training sessions about the life of Frank Laubach, I didn’t recall anything about his life as a Christian. The fact that he taught roughly 45, 000 people in the Philippines to read and write is an astonishing accomplishment, the kind of feat one wonders about in awe. What compels someone to even try? He must have been a remarkable, yet slightly unusual individual.
 
It is somewhat of a relief that Laubach mentions his anticipation of our objection to such intense introspection, and I must admit I was objecting heavily to the idea of consulting with God every 15 minutes. I can’t imagine having the discipline to do this, and I wonder at the practicality of such a routine. It would involve letting go of the sense that a well lived life, and especially an effectively lived life, would involve much more action than contemplation. Although, it’s hard for me to imagine such a regime of introspection, despite the eccentricity it does have a certain appeal. It would be an interesting experience, but I would be hampered by the feeling that I was taking an unscheduled holiday, one that would seem luxurious and a bit self centered. Yet, it obviously worked for Laubach, so why not you or me?
 
Laubach mentions a profound dissatisfaction as having led him in this direction, a universal feeling that turns many people towards religion. We instinctively begin to see this dissatisfaction as stemming from within as we mature. Be that as it may, not many of us could realistically attempt to literally seek God every 15 minutes, as ideal as this would be. That being said, as much as I have benefitted from my own relationship with God, at times I continue to feel the same disconnect Laubach seems to be referring to, and continue my own quest to encounter God more tangibly. However, I bristle a little at his "disgust" with his unled self. I doubt self disgust is ever constructive, and would prefer to think in terms of a gentler motivation for self improvement. Likewise, I also find myself bristling to analogies of slavery in connection with God. I have never liked this type of language in regards to faith, a language which seems more to me like the manifestation of poor self esteem and a longing to find a sense of worthiness than with a more honest quest to know God. I wonder what language Laubach may have used had he lived in more modern times. Some of what I have read here seems to be similar to Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now, and I wonder had Laubach written in the Oprah era if he would have been a cherished pop guru. Letting oneself be aware of God every 15 minutes, according to Laubach brings about a "here-ness", a constant mantra similar to Tolle. Laubach writes that it is helpful to continually ask "God, what have you to put into my mind now if only I can be large enough?" It’s a beautiful question really, one that could only smile on profound answers.
 
My biggest objection, when I contemplate this practice of constant listening is the giving up precious time. I feel quite greedy about my time at times. I don’t like to mess with it, giving any of it up to idleness. I like to feel productive. At the end of the day, I like to feel the day was well spent. I am disappointed if I gave in to rest, when I could have accomplished something else in that time. I guess the question I would need to answer to myself would be whether or not I think time spent listening to God is idle time or productive time. What I am noticing is that it should be an easier question for me to answer.