The last couple of weeks have been busy with days filled with obligations and long lists of tasks to accomplish. For a “retired” person, my days are just as robust as if I were pulling a nine-to- five, which was never the case but more like a 10-to-8-and sometimes longer. I think my husband is finally realizing that I am not sitting around all day watching TV and eating almonds.

After crunching several long hours last Tuesday and Wednesday to post a Mighty Black Women feature, work on a writing assignment for a friend and other duties, I could barely keep my eyes open during Wednesday night Bible study. I awoke Thursday to another day running over with things to do. Friday was much the same, including getting ready for my second trip in as many weekends to Philadelphia for a WABW focus group. (I might say the weekend was great, and it included a delightful birthday dinner for Greg and Sherry.)

I rushed back in time to celebrate our church’s 14th anniversary on Sunday. But yesterday, something happened as I was about to gear up for a day on the move. I had already done my morning prayers and devotional and had just spoken to my son. I was walking to the kitchen and was thinking about the next thing on my agenda when I felt an urgency to stop. It was as if God Himself was inviting me to sit with Him for a while.

I could not ignore the prompting in my spirit so I sat on the sofa, letting dapples of sunshine warm me.  I stilled my body and tried to quiet the thoughts rattling around in my mind. I wanted to listen for what God was saying.

Meditating is a spiritual discipline that I have come to appreciate for the calm and focus it brings, for the closeness to God it leaves. And when it’s coupled with fasting, as it is for me now in this Lenten season, my ability to hear God speak is sharpened.

What I heard yesterday during my time of mediation, where I stop praying and start listening, was “rest.”  Pause for a little while from hurrying and worrying. Be at peace.

Those 15 minutes energized me for the reminder of my day.

In his book, “Moments In Between,” author David Kundtz, encourages his readers to take time to quiet their minds “in the midst of a too-busy world” and to “notice the rests in the rhythm of the day.” He writes:

“Rests, as I understand them, are those moments in a piece of music when there is a passage of time but no sound. There is nothing. So Schoenberg, the composer, says that “nothing” always sounds well…The quiet moments—rests—in your day make your whole day sound well.”

Such rests also mean that in your stillness you are getting to know God better. That’s music for my soul.

What about you? Are you taking time to rest in God today?

Related posts:

1. Would you allow God to interrupt your busy life?