Saturday, October 2
He said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.
—Mark 6:31-32
We have so many “entertainments” and diversions these days, it is a wonder that anyone gets any time to just “be still and know that God is God.” Why is it important to be still? To know that God is God? The truth is, we were born alone and we will die alone. You can’t take your iPod with you. Can’t even take your family with you.
So who you are is the center of the meaning of your life. Discovering who you are is closely connected with being quiet enough, often enough to know your identity. To get in touch with that is to get in touch with God, because you are His creature.
A good way to start is to look at your daily/weekly schedule of events/commitments/et cetra. Is there time for you? Time to think? Time to go back over meaningful and or traumatic events, to absorb the hurt, feel the joy, learn from them, grow from them?
Ask yourself if you would like to have more time to do some self-examination—to ponder your life, your relationships, your values and priorities. If the answer is yes, then look again at your schedule with an eye to what you are willing to give up. See if there isn’t something less important than getting this new special alone time for you.
Then make your move. Eliminate the item that you are willing to give up. Schedule time for yourself, perhaps three times a week. Pick a place where it is quiet and where you will not be disturbed.
Turn off the phone. Maybe put on some music that relaxes you. And go for it. Try this for several months and see if you have more peace, more of a “centered” sense about yourself.
All this is a form of prayer. Good luck.
Heavenly Father, help me to seek a “quiet place,” where I can find you and find me. Amen.
These Signposts originally appeared on explorefaith in 2006.
