This morning I was up well before the sun. This, to me, is the very best way to start a day. I've always cherished the early mornings, but before becoming a parent I was not this acutely aware of my need for a steady dose of silence, stillness and solitude. I classified it as a preference, not a necessity. This is probably because I had so much room for it and control over it. If I missed an early morning window, there was always a mid-afternoon window, a early evening window or a late night window, or at least I had the freedom to shuffle things around to make it happen. As I mentioned in my last post, I have lived this recent season with a nagging feeling that I am constantly trying to keep up with myself. I mean, who does this? Who in their right mind would understand this is happening and continue to live like this? I've said more than once, "I refuse to live my life feeling behind and frazzled all the time, continuously chasing myself, constantly trying to catch up, never satisfied with my capacity, never living within my limits". And yet, this is a nagging that has stayed with me for months.
The cure for this largely comes in the form of silence, stillness and solitude. As I (we) learn to live with remarkably less margin and discretionary time, these three S's now come at a premium price, require creative intentionality and do more to refresh my soul than ever. For me, silence is necessary. Solitude is necessary. Stillness is necessary. When I lean into them and allow space for them, my very attitude and outlook changes. My hope is renewed. My spirit is more sensitive to His Spirit. My patience and flexibility are restored. My connection with the Father is strengthened. My tank is filled. My capacity for trust and thankfulness expands. My desire for community and celebration increases.
My best opportunity for embracing these three S's is in the early mornings. It doesn't always happen then, but it's my favorite when it does. In the mornings, I walk down the stairs as quietly as possible and am welcomed by the heavenly aroma of coffee. I sit with a steaming cup in my hand as I watch the darkness turn to morning light. I let my mind drift as I watch cars and buses and pedestrians make their way to work places and schools. I practice simply sitting still. No blogs. No email. No Twitter. No music. No journal. No Bible. No book. No expectations. In this space and time it is enough to be still, to be silent, to be alone. I listen, sip, sit, stare. Eventually I start to pray, but it's more like talking openly and honestly to a friend I trust completely, free from worries about how my words are coming across, or if I'm talking too much. Then I pull out Jesus Calling, read the day's passage once or twice and meditate on the accompanying scripture. God has richly used these words to speak to me, to redirect my fallen mindset, to reassure my anxious spirit, to remind me of my need for him and his love for me.
From today's reading: "I will infuse My strength into you moment by moment, giving you all that you need for this day. Trust Me, by relying on My empowering Presence."
"I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." Jeremiah 31:25
Silence. Solitude. Stillness. My three necessary S's.
The cure for this largely comes in the form of silence, stillness and solitude. As I (we) learn to live with remarkably less margin and discretionary time, these three S's now come at a premium price, require creative intentionality and do more to refresh my soul than ever. For me, silence is necessary. Solitude is necessary. Stillness is necessary. When I lean into them and allow space for them, my very attitude and outlook changes. My hope is renewed. My spirit is more sensitive to His Spirit. My patience and flexibility are restored. My connection with the Father is strengthened. My tank is filled. My capacity for trust and thankfulness expands. My desire for community and celebration increases.
My best opportunity for embracing these three S's is in the early mornings. It doesn't always happen then, but it's my favorite when it does. In the mornings, I walk down the stairs as quietly as possible and am welcomed by the heavenly aroma of coffee. I sit with a steaming cup in my hand as I watch the darkness turn to morning light. I let my mind drift as I watch cars and buses and pedestrians make their way to work places and schools. I practice simply sitting still. No blogs. No email. No Twitter. No music. No journal. No Bible. No book. No expectations. In this space and time it is enough to be still, to be silent, to be alone. I listen, sip, sit, stare. Eventually I start to pray, but it's more like talking openly and honestly to a friend I trust completely, free from worries about how my words are coming across, or if I'm talking too much. Then I pull out Jesus Calling, read the day's passage once or twice and meditate on the accompanying scripture. God has richly used these words to speak to me, to redirect my fallen mindset, to reassure my anxious spirit, to remind me of my need for him and his love for me.
From today's reading: "I will infuse My strength into you moment by moment, giving you all that you need for this day. Trust Me, by relying on My empowering Presence."
"I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." Jeremiah 31:25
Silence. Solitude. Stillness. My three necessary S's.
5 comments:
This just made me cry. (I'm apparently very emotional these days.) Thank you for reminding me how important quality ALONE time is.
Early mornings are my favorite. I love being up before everyone else and spending time in the word. Alone time is easy to forget about, but it's so important for sanity and reflection! Love this.
Thanks Becca for such an honest and encouraging word to be still and know He is God....
The perfect words for me this week. Thank you.
So lovely. Your writing just sounds peaceful. I definitely don't have these things very much.
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