– from the Introduction to “The Power of Pause”
Along with most other people in today’s world, I find myself living at a terribly brisk pace. My attention jumps from one task to another at work while my eyes scan web pages and blogs for pertinent articles at home. My attention constantly darts between my wife, my son, books, and the computer. In the midst of all of this, how does one begin to slow down? What’s the secret to living a peaceful, slow life?
In the “The Power of Pause” (Loyola Press, 235 pages, $16.95), author Terry Hershey speaks into these questions. The book is filled with 52 chapters containing reflections and practical ideas to allow the soul to “catch up” with the body. These 52 chapters—corresponding to the weeks of the year—are arranged along seasonal themes. Though I didn’t read the book in conjunction with the seasons of the year, I imagine it would only heighten the message’s effect; appreciating the seasons is one path to a ‘paused’ life.
The main message of the book should be, I think, well received by most people, specifically we busy Americans. Echoing the Third Commandment of God, Hershey promotes the Judeo-Christian practice of the Sabbath as the foundation of a restful life. Instead of sequestering Sabbath practices to one day of the week, however, Hershey encourages the blanketing of all our activities with them. While a Catholic, Hershey doesn’t tinge each entry with religious references or explicitly Catholic belief. God and the idea of Sabbath are mentioned on a small handful of pages, but the book doesn’t seem geared toward readers looking for a theological understanding of ‘rest’; it seems written for those who instead are seeking personal experiences of it.
In addition to the practice of regular Sabbaths, Hershey also encourages such practices as “paying attention”, “being centered”, “intently listening”, and “embracing the present while rejecting the urgent”. The book offers many practical suggestions including withdrawing from your daily grind for half-a-day, visiting a garden and allowing time to mindlessly wander, savor a simple experience like an ice cream cone on a bench or a good cup of coffee, and playing like a child by running through sprinklers or rolling down a hill. All of these and more help us to escape the urgent, frenetic world many of us find ourselves in.
When Hershey introduces the phrase “power of pause”, he discusses two different types of “pause”. The first, ‘passive-pause’, requires us to breathe out, to let go, to be still. The second, ‘active-pause’, requires us to breathe in, be attentive, and be conscious of the present moment. This hearkens to the two distinct methods of Christian prayer—and frankly the prayers of pretty much all religions.
“The Power of Pause” has a sort of “New Age” feel to it; anytime people speak of “being present” or recognizing the “power of now”, a Christian reader needs to discern whether or not these terms are using to accentuate God and life with Him or are used as a substitute, as in the case of “New Age” religion. Jesus spoke all the time about rest—“..and I will give you rest”–and did it often Himself. I think many of the phrases used by Hershey, such as “power of pause” and “living a present life”, are simply fresher versions of religious terms such as “spiritual simplicity” and “contemplation”. In the case of this book, I think the neglect of explicitly religious terms and anecdotes were simply made in order for the book to appeal to a larger (non-Christian) audience.
There were two misgivings I had after finishing. The material at times can seem overly ‘fluffy’ and ‘light’ while also seemingly repetitive. I consider the themes and practices Hershey suggests to be of great value, but many of the anecdotes and chapters could have been consolidated. While the material was inherently good, I didn’t think there was enough unique material to fill 52 entries. Second, each entry begins with a quote pulled from one of the greatest contemplatives and “pausers” to have lived—Hershey references greats such as Thomas Merton, Gandhi, C.S. Lewis, Pascal, and Eugene Peterson. I found that these quotes were wonderful in setting the mood for the entry. What I was perturbed by, however, were the closing sections found after some of the entries. The publisher of the book, Loyola Press, developed some “Book Extras” which are posted on their website. These extras– including a personal “pause” assessment, links to websites, and picture and craft templates—seem to counter the message of the entries they conclude. An entry that encourages pause and disconnect is followed by an invitation to fire up the computer and jump right back online. I found this a little confusing.
Also, as a confession, my reading of the book was probably the antithesis of the book’s message—I finished it over a few weeks after only a handful of sittings. So instead of reading each passage and “pausing” on it throughout the week, I instead read multiple chapters and gleaned only what I thought necessary. Even with my quicker reading of the book, I was still able to absorb the importance of regular ‘pauses’. However I think if I had slowly made my way through the book over the course of a year, its principles surely would be more deeply embedded within me.
If you are looking for a book on the Sabbath, one that approaches these same themes through an explicitly Judeo-Christian lens, my favorite book on the topic is the aptly named “Sabbath”, written by Wayne Muller. In fact, Hershey references “Sabbath” a few times in his own book. On the other hand, if you are looking for a fairly light read on the idea of “pausing”, resting, and being present, then “The Power of Pause” would be decent choice.
(Click here to see some of the book extras and take the “Pause Assessment” to find out if you need a little more ‘pause’ in your life!)