Life is busy. There is so much going on in our personal lives and at work. Family and friends clamor for our attention. We’re bombarded with stimulation via technology for hours a day, every day. There’s many distractions and sometimes we just need a break. We need a chance to catch our breath, decompress and reconnect with ourselves and our God. So I encourage us to take a break. What that may look like is different for everyone but it has some foundational aspects.
Silence. It’s amazing how much this commodity is missing in our lives and how much harder it is to find. There’s a lot of noise out there, so much so that when you actually find the silence, it’s almost unrecognizable. It may be at home or it may be outside. Maybe it’s your car when you first get in before you leave for work, or when you get into work. It can be anywhere you choose but there can’t be a buzz of your phone or watch. There can’t be a partner or child tugging on you for attention. There can’t be distractions. It needs to be a safe haven. A place to be still.
Stillness. Just like the physical noise, there is mental noise. There’s a restlessness that unfortunately these days is encouraged and almost glorified. As if you aren’t moving, you’re wasting time and aren’t productive. You need to always be on the go, always doing something, constantly in motion., We have a voice that tells us we need to do and be more. This can be a good test; try sitting still and see what happens. If you feel anxiety, the desire to move, or even a bead of sweat breaking out on your forehead or behind your knees, you’re probably overstimulated. Stillness, like silence, is a rare occasion.
I suffer from both of the above. I’ve visited and revisited mediation numerous times in my life and have always been challenged in seeking the above. It’s funny how difficult it is! I have found that it doesn’t have to be a grand task where you spend an hour meditating or sitting still to achieve a noticeable benefit. I’ve found as little as 5-10 minutes can make you feel more at ease, more mentally and physically rested, and less anxious. You also start to gain more tolerance for “the little things” that normally bother people. You gain more clarity for problem solving, situational awareness and focus. So in reality, you are more productive and in a better state of mind to be the best human you can be with taking time! It’s a wonderful paradox!
Most people are aware of Psalm 23, about laying in green pastures and before still waters, where God strengthens. But here is another passage from Psalms; “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken..” (Ps 62:1-2) And we know that even God rested, taking the last day of creation to look upon all He created with pride. So we can do the same. Take some rest to reset.
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