I've returned to an old discipline that I have gotten away from--regular stillness and silence to focus on God. I'm trying to begin most days with at least 10 minutes of silent meditation (and work up from there)
It's been hard...Here are some reflections that I journaled after a "restless" time of silence today:
Only 10 minutes of silence
keenly aware of my shallow breath, tightness.
O Lord breathe deeply into me!
My mind strays; like a ticking clock it never stops.
I want to press pause--freeze time with just You.
Traffic rumbles on below,
even our small little town moves at a pace which leaves their hearts in a blur.
SLOW DOWN, PAUSE, TAKE STOCK
THE LORD OF HOSTS IS HERE
HE LOVES DEEPLY, HE CHERISHES HIS CREATION
O receive--Please stop long enough to see!
It is not just the smell of roses we miss with our frantic pace
The very aroma of Christ hangs in the air.
We breathe too shallowly, panting for breath as we increase our pace.
The lover of our soul waits.
Our souls dry up like a worn out set of lungs
We have suffocated ourselves.
Will we not see the insanity of our striving?
Meaningless! Vanity of vanities!
We parade ourselves through life...but for whom?
Who do we assume is our audience?
It seems we are our own.
But Another watches with great interest
Leaning in to catch every moment of our frenetic dance.
He weeps--yet He does not recoil.
He loves--ever reaching for us.
He invites us to dance.
A dance He leads and we follow
He gives, we receive
He loves, we accept and are blessed.
He holds out His hand
The music of an eternal song already plays--a new song! A new Rhythm!
But for now it seems faint, hidden beneath the din of our own frantic pace.
To hear we must STOP.
BE STILL
LISTEN
Softly the music is heard,but not in your ears
It arises from deep within our soul.
Deep cries out to deep. Love is welling up.
His hand is in front of you
He invites you to join His dance
He will keep the rhythm, He will tune your heart to His ways.
Please slow down, breathe deep, take His hand, and let His rhythm take over!
