January 12, 2013

[in quietness & trust]

Your 'strum' iPhone alarm tone goes off at 6:30 AM to wake you up for work.. (or maybe it's the 'bark' tone, like mine - either way).. after pressing the snooze button once (okay, twice.. three times) you rush to get ready for work.. brush your teeth.. throw on something 'respectably professional' even though you're still 17 at heart.. de-ice your car (what the HECK.. who knew it was supposed to get to 32 last night?!).. high tail it to work while listening to radio talk shows about murders and celebrities.

Okay, so maybe that's a little exaggerated, BUT don't lie - you know that you agreed with at least a few of those. That's just the time from 6:30 - 8, and I'm already stressed. Then there's the whole 8 to 5 thing where you work for a good 8 hours in said cubicle.. OH, and then you have that life thing from 5:30 (after your commute & traffic) until your bedtime. Don't forget dinner, working out, relationships (family, friends, significant others), TV shows, Jesus time, and chores.

SLOW THE FREAK DOWN.

We, in fact, live in a world starved for solitude, silence, and private, and therefore starved for mediation and true friendship.
-C.S. Lewis

Maybe it's the 'American' way of life that is so rapid and hurried, maybe it's our sinful nature.. maybe it's a combination. Is life not a gift? Should we not embrace it with open arms? Should we not savor it, blessing by blessing?

Let's see how Jesus would start the day. No, they did not have iPhones to feed you your best friend's (or that random girl you met one night at that friend's house) every move on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, etc., but that doesn't mean he didn't have the opportunity to get overwhelmed. Large crowds were constantly following Jesus (Luke 14:25, John 6:2) in hopes of either receiving healing or condemning him for being a 'false prophet.' Stressful.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
-Mark 1:35

Love that.

I love that it goes against our culture. Tell me that we don't live in a world deprived of alone time, peace, rest, and joy, for that matter.

Settle down.

Take time to do things that matter.

Ger rid of the rest.

Get some alone time.

Do less.

Pray.

Be grateful.

Go on walks.

Take time to notice the little things.. from the color change in the leaves to the friendliness of your Starbuck's server.

and most (and sometimes hardest) of all..

rest in the truth that He is in control.

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
-Psalm 46:10

looooove ya.