A lot of what I’ve experienced in life is about doing – activities, work, school; my agenda has always been one of my most prized possessions. The fuller it was the happier I believed I would be. Paul used to tease me that I didn’t know how to relax; if I had an afternoon with nothing planned I would quickly become anxious and need to find something to do. Although I definitely still believe there is merit in having a plan, I’m learning that what is even more important is to just be.
This trip is teaching me about being – being present, intentional, relational and in the presence of God. In the average North American lifestyle, we do not relax or meditate nearly enough. We go and we do until we get burnt out; we act as though relaxation should only be a reward for the worthy. In Max Lucado’s book “Outlive Your Life” he discusses what we can learn from the way Jesus’ disciples lived:
“Linger long and often in the presence of Christ:
Meditate on his grace. Ponder his love. Memorize
his words. Gaze into his face. Talk to him.
Courage comes as we live with Jesus.”
I’ve been including this in my daily prayers and benefiting from trying to implement it in my life. When I invite the Holy Spirit into my day, it helps me to be more aware – of where I am and what I’m doing. I, like all of you, want to make the most of every opportunity I’ve been given; in order to do that we need to focus less on doing and more on being.
