Part 1: Center Down to Truth
Howard Thurman, whose wisdom continues to inspire and whose voice is needed perhaps now more than ever, offered this profound insight:
"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do that, because what the world needs is more people who have come alive."
One of the tools through which Thurman himself came alive was what he called a Working Paper—a living document that helped him understand who he was, what he was called to do, and how to live that out for the sake of God's world. This practice emerged from his deep understanding that without taking time to reflect and pray and live with intentionality, we ultimately give ourselves over to external pressures, letting cultural or market forces dictate our lives rather than following a deeper spiritual calling.
The journey of creating your own Working Paper begins with Thurman's practice of "centering down"—carving out space for stillness, contemplation, and prayer. This mirrors Jesus's instruction to go to our own inner rooms and his pattern of retreat and return. Our outer witness is only as strong as our inner work; we cannot fully come alive without coming alive fully to the divine.
An Invitation to Center Down
Just as Howard Thurman found sanctuary under a backyard oak tree, you're invited to find your own place where you can be still. It doesn't have to be an actual tree (though how lovely if it is). It just needs to be a space where you can be uninterrupted for a few minutes. Perhaps it's in your living room, your car before work, or at your kitchen table. Wherever you find this space, here's how to begin:
First, if you have one, light a candle. Watch the flame. Remember that the Spirit of God hovered over the waters at the beginning of all things, and hovers still, right there, wherever you are.
Settle your body. Notice the weight of yourself wherever you're sitting or standing. Feel the ground beneath you—the earth has been holding you for a long time. Wiggle your toes. Bring attention to your breath.
Breathe deeply. Let your breath be a reminder that the same God who breathed life into dust is breathing life into you, right now. You don't have to manufacture anything. Just notice. Just receive.
If your mind wanders, and it will, practice this simple rhythm: notice the thought, pause, release the thought, and then return. As Thomas Keating once said, "If your mind gets distracted 1,000 times in ten minutes of silent prayer, it's 1,000 opportunities to come back to the loving presence of Jesus." You might anchor yourself with a word of intention—love, peace, hope—or a verse of scripture like Psalm 46:10: "Be still and know that I am God."
After your silence, even if it's just five minutes, take time to write down whatever arose. Maybe a word or phrase came to mind. Or maybe you have nothing. That's okay, too. It's why this is called a practice. As you reflect, consider this question: What do you know to be true? What is it, beneath all the shoulds and supposed-tos, that you know to be true? You might be surprised what comes to you. Take a few minutes and just write that down. It could be one thing. It could be a couple of things. But what is it that you know to be true?
This is the beginning of your vision to be used in your working paper.