I am so glad I can connect with you through email and the Emmanuel Blog. I am missing worship together on Sunday mornings, but coming together does not only happen on Sunday. I also appreciate the new ways I have found to connect. Last week, I had pleasant visits in backyards, the church parking lot, over a bowl of soup, on long walks in the park, sitting on a park bench, and of course, through zoom groups, texts, and emails. The conversations have been delightful and encouraging.
I have also enjoyed hearing the different ways people are abiding in Christ. Very inspiring. We are continuing to connect through listening to one another’s thoughts on what it means to be part of the vine, as we walk through our daily lives, walking with Jesus and one another. Today, I listened to the morning service sitting in the sun, at 9:30 am imagining others were also worshipping at the same time.
A few weeks ago, I talked about taking time to pause, and last week the reflection was on how we will use our waiting spaces. These two themes are still very much part of my daily musings. I mentioned last week that during the crazy time of waiting for surgery in 2017, God taught me to focus on Him through the process. I found I would often wander off to a quiet place in the park to pray and listen.
I long for my spirit, soul, and body to be rejuvenated in God's presence.
Again, I am finding myself daily longing to go and rest in the same place, and now I am taking my dog skip and my grandchildren, Alex, and Hailey along with me.
We have come to name the quiet space, Whispering Hill, which is in a park near my home. I have discovered my dog is a people watcher and enjoys the pause time. Animals also like to rest in God’s creation and goodness. So, the four of us sit and enjoy the view and sunshine, as we pause and listen for God to whisper.
Jesus often went away to quiet places by Himself and with His disciples.
Throughout the Gospels, you can find Him going to solitary and lonely places early in the morning to pray. He would slip away to sit alone on the shore of a lake, or to sit on a mountain after extended days of work. He went out alone in a boat when He heard about John the Baptist was beheaded to mourn. At times, He also took his disciples along to be quiet and get some rest when their days were long.
Taking time to pause, to be silent and reflect was the natural part of His daily life and ministry.
What I found interesting is when Jesus slipped away, it was almost immediately. He knew when He needed to stop and be renewed by God’s Spirit. To be restored and heal His union with the Father. He was part of the Trinity, and now, as He did with the disciples, also invites us to join Him in the quiet places of life.
Do you have a place you go when you need to be restored and pause? Who can you take with you into solitude and silence to worship and pray together?
“Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there.” (Matthew 15:29)
“Because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, [Jesus] said to [his disciples], ‘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)
Prayer: Jesus, teach us to pause throughout our day to take the time to listen to what Your Spirit is saying. Help us to hear, You whisper words of love and heal our union with You. Heal and restore our souls so we can continue to love others well. Help us this week to choose the way that will lead us to spend more time with you. Amen.
I want to thank all who have emailed me with encouraging thoughts concerning the blog post. If you would like to write for the blog or have ideas on what I could write about or would like to say hi, please email me, I would enjoy hearing from you.
Blessings and Stay Safe,
Robin
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