The quiet place
Today is many things.
Some would say it's the first day of the rest of your life. Others would say it's the day that the Lord has made. One friend of mine loves today because it's her birthday. (Don't tell anyone - but Rachel Reyman in Grand Rapids, Michigan is 26 today! She shares it with Cybil Shepherd and John Travolta, although both are older than her... a little.) While all of these are true, I'm mainly celebrating today because it's Friday.
Last night was a quiet one for me. I've been living back at home for 11 months now - for those of you who didn't do the math, that's ONE month short of a YEAR. Quiet nights don't come around that often. My sister Olivia is a senior this year and had her last volleyball game last night, so my parents were both there to watch her. I opted to stay home, relax a little and catch her tournament on Saturday. This turned out to be a wise move for me. I took a long, leisurely bath, watched an hour of television and then headed to my room, where I spent the next couple of hours reading... just for pure enjoyment. It was great. No hectic schedule, no thoughts of the day swirling in my head, no need to answer anyone, no solving of the world's dilemmas... Just me, God, cozy blankets, and some simple solitude.
The contentment I experienced in those moments of quiet reminded me of something I hadn't thought of in a long time. I was driving downtown about a year ago and stopped at the light next to Maggie's Tavern. (You know how when you have some sort of revelation, some epiphany, you remember for the rest of your life where you were at that moment? Maybe even what you were wearing?) I had just left the gas station and was on my way back to work after lunch. I was going through the darkest time of my life and I prayed a simple prayer for comfort as I waited for the light to turn. In that moment, sitting there at the light I had this thought... 'Life slows down in the quiet place.'
It was God's way of reminding that no matter how overwhelmed I get - no matter how many times I try to break a negative pattern of behavior in my life - no matter how stressed I get about life and where I am headed, it can all slow down and all of the shouting can turn to silence during a quiet time.
I did that yesterday. I paused, got alone and spent some time silent.
I can't say that I really tried to get a new perspective on anything or even challenged myself to break down any more pieces of the life-puzzle... but taking a break, and turning it all over for God to think about sure helped.
That's one reason why today feels particularly sweet. I'm looking at it through quieted eyes.
Happy Birthday Rachel!!
Some would say it's the first day of the rest of your life. Others would say it's the day that the Lord has made. One friend of mine loves today because it's her birthday. (Don't tell anyone - but Rachel Reyman in Grand Rapids, Michigan is 26 today! She shares it with Cybil Shepherd and John Travolta, although both are older than her... a little.) While all of these are true, I'm mainly celebrating today because it's Friday.
Last night was a quiet one for me. I've been living back at home for 11 months now - for those of you who didn't do the math, that's ONE month short of a YEAR. Quiet nights don't come around that often. My sister Olivia is a senior this year and had her last volleyball game last night, so my parents were both there to watch her. I opted to stay home, relax a little and catch her tournament on Saturday. This turned out to be a wise move for me. I took a long, leisurely bath, watched an hour of television and then headed to my room, where I spent the next couple of hours reading... just for pure enjoyment. It was great. No hectic schedule, no thoughts of the day swirling in my head, no need to answer anyone, no solving of the world's dilemmas... Just me, God, cozy blankets, and some simple solitude.
The contentment I experienced in those moments of quiet reminded me of something I hadn't thought of in a long time. I was driving downtown about a year ago and stopped at the light next to Maggie's Tavern. (You know how when you have some sort of revelation, some epiphany, you remember for the rest of your life where you were at that moment? Maybe even what you were wearing?) I had just left the gas station and was on my way back to work after lunch. I was going through the darkest time of my life and I prayed a simple prayer for comfort as I waited for the light to turn. In that moment, sitting there at the light I had this thought... 'Life slows down in the quiet place.'
It was God's way of reminding that no matter how overwhelmed I get - no matter how many times I try to break a negative pattern of behavior in my life - no matter how stressed I get about life and where I am headed, it can all slow down and all of the shouting can turn to silence during a quiet time.
I did that yesterday. I paused, got alone and spent some time silent.
I can't say that I really tried to get a new perspective on anything or even challenged myself to break down any more pieces of the life-puzzle... but taking a break, and turning it all over for God to think about sure helped.
That's one reason why today feels particularly sweet. I'm looking at it through quieted eyes.
Happy Birthday Rachel!!
posted by Amber | 9:54 AM
1 Comments:
hey berzie! good to hear from ya!
*big hugs and much love*
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