Life can carry us along and before we know it weeks have passed. I say this because, if you have been checking my blog, you will know that I have not written for a couple of weeks. What has happened? Well, it is all good. First I took a week of vacation. Then I needed a week to catch up from my vacation! It has made me realize, yet again, how important it is to have moments of quiet.
Life is full – I don’t need to tell you that. No doubt you check the calendar to see what you have on today, this week, this month. Regularly checking to note when are your appointments, when are your meetings, when is someone coming to visit, when is the book due back at the library and on and on. Being busy is important, keeping commitments is important but it is also important to take the time to be quiet, to do nothing, to stop the scheduling, to soak up God’s goodness.
Today is Friday and you know that I sometimes like to offer a poem for your weekend reflection. Well, here is a brief reflection written by Teresa of Avila, Spain. She lived from 1515 to 1582. Seems life was busy even in the 1500’s!
How is it, my God, that you have given me this hectic busy life when I have so little time to enjoy your presence. Throughout the day people are waiting to speak to me, and even at meals I have to continue talking to people about their needs and problems. During sleep itself I am still thinking and dreaming about the multitude of concerns that surround me. I do all this not for my own sake, but for yours. To me my present pattern of life is a torment; I only hope that for you it is truly a sacrifice of love. I know that you are constantly beside me, yet I am usually so busy that I ignore you. If you want me to remain so busy, please force me to think about and love you even in the midst of such hectic activity. If you do not want me so busy, please release me from it, showing how others can take over my responsibilities.
What are you going to do this weekend to find some ‘down time’? Can you find a moment of quiet even in your busyness?
