This is one of my favorite weeks of the year. I love my family and, even if I were with them all day, there are simply not enough hours in the day for me to spend with them. But every year, my wife takes the kids to a camp in Lubbock, Texas. They leave early Father’s Day morning and come back very late Friday night (it is more often very early Saturday morning). I look forward to this week. As much as I love my family, I get one full week of quiet. I can watch a movie of my choosing without interruptions. I can listen to the music I want to listen to. I can just sit and enjoy the silence for one week of the year.
Our world is full of noise and distractions. I always seem to be in a hurry to get somewhere or finish a task. Living in a large city, it is very difficult to find a quiet place to go. Finding a relatively quiet place and taking time to breathe and relax is vital to a mentally and spiritually healthy life. It does not need to be a full week (and my week won’t be all quiet since I am still working through the week), but consistently take a few minutes to get away from the noise and distractions of life and just think. I love when I get to do that.
Be still and know that I am God.
Psalm 46: 10
Often when I am busy and have several deadlines coming due soon, I forget to be still. I start feeling overwhelmed and begin to feel like I have to do everything for myself. “If it is to be, it’s up to me.” And I start looking at everything I have done and everything I am going to do. It is not until I slow down and am still that I realize that my accomplishments are not mine. The tasks ahead are not mine. I do nothing on my own. The “If it is to be it’s up to me” mentality is a formula for failure. Nothing is accomplished solely through the efforts of one person and nothing worthwhile is accomplished without God. It is not until I slow down and am still that I know God is here.
I love my family, and after a few days, I will be ready for them to come home. But until then, I will continue to enjoy the quiet evenings.
In the busyness of your life, take time to slow down and be still. Think, pray, and know that he is God.
