Blog 7 Moments
Mark 6:39-46
You can read the passage here:
Mark 6:39-46 NIV – Then Jesus directed them to have all – Bible Gateway
The post-Thanksgiving-university-application-fall-sports-team-calendar-Christmas-is-only-70-days-away is upon us.
What did you do this weekend?
How many people did you have over for dinner?
Where did you go?
What will you do next year for university?
Where are you going for holidays next?
Are we there yet?
Sometimes, it seems we get lost in a barrage of questions that, while well intentioned, seem to push us to the next moment. And we’ve learned how to live in that push. We are pushed to set goals (a good thing), we try to make plans for ourselves, and others (often necessary, and usually good) and we make lists of what we want to accomplish. We tell stories of what we will do next, or how what we have done prepares us for what we do next. We push our stories into the future or tug them from our past.
But what if we took a second and rested here, right here, right now, just for a second?
When God created everything, in God’s time, there was a time when God rested and was present with creation without doing anything. And looking over it, God called it good. God says taking those moments is more than ok. Whatever our barrage of stories is, good or tough, God holds us in this moment, and in all moments. Sometimes, though, we don’t know God is holding us because we’re too busy rushing into the next thing. I’m not saying that as Christians we can stop moving forward. But sometimes we need to realize exactly where we are and Who we are with in the moment as we do.
I’m not good at resting and taking those moments. This one is taking practice for me. I’m working on it.
This week, I’d encourage us to stop in Christ’s presence. Breathe. Let the depth of Jesus’ grace and love come in, even if only for moments at first. Let God know what is in your heart and mind. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that burnout is a gift from God. There are lots of places where God gives peace, rest, and refreshing moments for whatever the next step in our journey holds. There are lots of times when people in the Bible got to stop for a moment. Jesus himself took moments with God after he had taught and fed over 5000 people. I would need a moment then, too.
Here are some moments to try—I am sure you have many of your own.
Look up at the stars just before going home from a late meeting and knowing that the God who made the stars is guiding you home.
A moment of watching steam spin from a coffee cup and wondering at all the forms water can take.
A moment of feeling a baby’s fingers curl around your little finger because that’s all they can hold right now.
Seeing your hair turn grey and wonder at all the wisdom and life that God guided you through to this point.
Watching one leaf fall.
Being content with just this breath.
Hearing the key turn in the door and knowing someone is safely home.
Singing or playing a beautiful major chord.
May God bless you with moments of presence this week.
Peace in Christ,
Susan
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