Adding some new disciplines, Father Abraham style

Way, way back in the day, there was an extremely popular song among Christian Sunday School classes. The song’s popularity among children didn’t have a lot to do with the inspiring lyrics, or the transcendent spiritual message. In fact, to this day I cannot figure out what it was designed to teach children. But I digress.

The REAL reason that kids like me got so jazzed about Father Abraham had everything to do with the accompanying actions associated with it. Curiously, the actions have no real connection to the song’s lyrics at all.

For example:

Father Abraham, had many sons.

Many sons had Father Abraham.

I am one of them.

And so are you.

So let’s all praise the Lord!

Right arm!

(Repeat from the beginning)

It’s pretty easy to follow along with until the “right arm” bit comes in. This line is designed to illustrate what we should be doing with our body whilst singing. My teachers always seemed to mime a train conductor with this move. Fist loosely clenched, it’s time to blow that horn.

After repeating the first section of the lyrics again, the “left arm” is appended to the end, with a simultaneous left-handed train conductor move to boot. If you ever worried about not appearing cool in social situations, songs like this tended to put everyone on equally goofy ground.

The song would continue, with your other appendages added in turn. Right leg, left leg, and nod your head.

And just when you think that you have nothing left to move in time with the beat (presumably provided by a tambourine or an egg shaker), the grand finale comes in, where you are to continue all of the motions, simultaneously, and… (wait for it)

…turn your entire body around! Neato, huh?

Apparently, the song is still getting some play in churches around the world. Check out this video with a robot leading the chorus for a bunch of kids:

Pretty life-like robot, right? But don’t be fooled. That perfectly shaped wedge haircut is a dead giveaway. Nice try, robots. Also, the lack of the train-conductor move is something that no human would allow. So there.

Never mind the fact that as kids, we didn’t understand how all of this was connected. The motions to this song kept building on each other, and we were all amazed that our brains and bodies could handle it all.

I’ve been trying add more of a structured process to my own life as of late, and I’m going to try the Father Abraham approach to do it.

I’m going to add a particular discipline to my life, get it habituated, and then add another along with it. I’ll likely be doing this until I am literally able to rock the Father Abraham motions in my sleep.

Seriously, I’m not sure that this will be an effective strategy, but I’m going to give it a go. I’ll keep blogging here about my progress, and highlight when I add a new discipline.

First up:

• Be early to rise.

During my Ramadan Fast, I remember one particular morning where I happened to be looking out my back window. It was just after dawn, and I had already begun the fast, but had not yet meditated for the day. Right under one of our oak trees, I saw a little bird, hopping along, pecking around all over the ground. While I didn’t immediately understand what was happening, I soon realized that I was actually witnessing an early bird trying to get the worm.

Sure enough, that little guy ended up with a plump little worm in his beak, and he flew off to enjoy the fruits of his labor.

Without adding any more cheese to the already cheesy post, I’ll just say that I can see the value in being like that bird.

For the past couple of days, I have been the first to rise in my house. This gives me some quiet time to be still, get my lotus position on, and meditate.

The contents of my meditations have been a bit scattered, and I imagine that I’ll be more disciplined in this shortly.

But for now, I’m singing my song, and I’m pumping my right arm. Soon enough, I’ll be ready to add something new. See you then.