I didn’t notice until I did.
At some point, I had jumped back on the pre-pandemic hamster wheel. I tried to jump off but couldn’t keep up with the demands and commitments that got the wheel going to begin with. So, I’m back on again but working to slow it down.
It has been a wild three years, hasn’t it? So many of us have leaped into life as we knew it without intentionally thinking about how we want our life to go. There were valuable lessons in the time of the Corona crazies when life was slow, and we had no choice but to stop. The lessons I learned then are ones I don’t want to sacrifice at the altar of the busy world and its demands.
So, I am taking time to reset and refocus this year and this Lenten season. One way to do this is through quiet and solitude.
When we read the gospels, we notice Jesus often took time alone to pray and get quiet. A time to reset away from the crowds and the noise. A break from the bustle that came with His ministry and the criticisms of those who set out to cause Him to stumble.
Even though my life seems so unlike His (different time, place, gender), there are parallels. I, too, am around others who want a chunk of my daily 24 hours. I live in a world where the air is rife with criticism, judgment, and bad news. I, too, need time alone with my Father.
Interestingly, Jesus left for the wilderness immediately after His baptism. He spent 40 days of solitude and temptation there, preparing for His ministry. He didn’t just jump in; He got His focus and vision fixed for the job ahead. We read in the gospels that getting quiet and taking time to reset and refocus in prayer was a regular rhythm in His life.
When we think about Lent, we often think about giving up something, like a particular food. Less in our schedule can equal more of God. Resetting and refocusing can be a time to give up or pause the things pulling us toward the hamster wheel.
Is there something you can take off your schedule?
Here are some suggestions for ways to begin your time of reset and refocus in quiet and solitude this season:
Time and Place: Set aside a block of time 3-5 times per week. For many people, morning works best, so set your alarm earlier than usual. Pick a place that is quiet and comfortable. If the weather permits, nature is a wonderful place to reset.
Distractions: Put your phone away or turn it off and get comfortable. Think about easing your soul into this space.
Close your eyes and invite Jesus in: Take deep breaths and picture yourself sitting next to Him or gazing into His eyes. Simply sit and abide.
Pray: Ask the Lord to direct your path; He is your counselor. Wait on Him to give you a vision for your life and time. Share your anxieties and pain. Open your journal and write your concerns.
Read: Read the words of Christ. What did He say in His gospels? How does this apply to you? What did He do with His time on this same earth as ours?
If Jesus needed time away, time in quiet and solitude, time with the Father, so do we. Let’s follow His example and reset and refocus in this season leading up to Easter.
“Entering silence is entering into joy.”
Saint Augustine
Love this ❤️
🙂
This is so well written and impactful and practical.
I am so enjoying your book by the way!
Have a great day!
Thank you, Miranda. Blessings to you!