We begin this eight-week journey of finding time for quiet and solitude, twice daily.
We begin paying more attention to living in God's presence, individually and together.
So, this morning I sat in my office and shut my eyes. I said to God, "I am here. I am quiet."
Well for about 30 seconds and then my mind flitted to my last phone call. Thinking,
"Was that something I should have managed?" Then drifting off into more questions,
caught myself. "Be still and know that I am God."
45 seconds--- my computer dinged, NEW e-mail. My eyes popped open.
No, I will not check it, I thought. I will be quiet and still with God for 4 minutes
in a row. "Be still and know that I am God." I start again.
Planning for Christian Education for next year, runs across my brain.
I chase it with planning and plotting. Then, I stop myself. Open, my
eyes, say outloud to God in whose presence we live. "Sorry. I will be still."
Somehow after six or seven initial trys, I manage to be quiet, still, in God's
presence for a full five minutes. I read the poem again, "I have a need of such
clearence" is right. (Daily Office, Remembering God's Presence Throughout the Day,
Begin the Journey, By Peter Scazzero, Page. 2) How do I clear my head, my heart
for you. I think "I hope it is going better for everyone else!"
Easter worship was so much easier with its music and flowers and
people. Just the sense of anticipation.
Why can't I seem to clear enough space in my mind and heart for that
kind of anticipation for living in the presence of God on Monday morning?
The stop sign seems a good sign for me to consider this week:
Day one, prayer one, not so good for me.
This practicing what I preach, hard stuff o Lord,
Very hard stuff.
