As some of you may know I am currently in my second trimester, almost six months pregnant, with twins. The joy and excitement my husband, daughter and I feel is overflowing! We are incredibly excited and very much in “twin planning mode!” What will they need? Do we need two of everything? How will the car work with three car seats? Will we ever be able to sleep again? This Sunday’s Gospel speaks to me, it reassures me that rest in this overwhelming world of ours is equally important to our lives and daily tasks.
It is easy to get caught up in a “To-Do” list. If you are like me, you may have a hard time saying, “No,” which means you might be over extending yourself often! It is hard for those of us serving in ministry to be able to pause and rest. We almost get a sense of guilt if we say no or if we take time to ourselves. But, how else can we listen and be open to hearing God if we don’t make the time to be quiet? It is often through rest, reflection, and silence that we can draw closer to Him, it is not like he has a megaphone on standby!
My daughter has a hard time napping, in fact a hard time getting to sleep at any time. I can imagine I was similar when I was her age (5). Singing, talking with her stuff animals, or “reading” to her barbies, is a more engaging and fun activity then closing your eyes and silence. As she says, “Sleeping is boring.” Oh the joy of being young! Her actions remind me how hard it is for us to slow down. Rest is just as essential to her young growing mind and body, as it is to mine. If prayer is essential and intentional, so too must our commitment to rest and silence.
As Jesus encouraged his disciples to rest, he too encourages us to take time for ourselves. I often tell Gracey, Jesus likes to whisper little secrets just for you to hear, so quiet time is essential to a friendship with Him. How can we take time to find rest and silence in this busy world?
Here are some tips:
- Find a quiet place, all to your own, where you can commit to being in silence when you are there. Maybe a room in your house, a park bench, or a pew in church.
- Set aside 1% of your day to silence and prayer. This can be just 15 minutes a day! If you set aside this time before bed, you might have an easier time falling asleep!
- Explore the silence by journaling afterward. As you sit in silence, your mind may tend to drift. It takes practice to control your mind. Perhaps writing down where your mind is drifting might indicate items controlling too much of your time.
- Remember, being comfortable in silence takes practice. Being intentional about rest is important and essential. Don’t worry, that “To-Do” list will be there when you get back!
Katie Price is the Coordinator of Stewardship and Discipleship at the Cathedral. She can be reached at the Parish Offices 522-3342 or via email at [email protected].