Quiet Places

​Ahh! The glow of light dancing in through the window was just enough to break the darkness as I shuffled slowly to my favorite spot on the sofa.  Early.  Alone.  Quiet!  It is rare that I get to experience any extended time here by myself before my mind begins its race to list making in order to fill every moment with “should do’s” and “have to’s.”  Activities that are difficult to escape, crowd my mind, and cramp my style.  Often my list is frustrating because it takes two people to accomplish and well…let’s face it, my list and his list doesn’t have the same level of importance.  It’s times like that when I wish I had a magic wand.  Circle three times and with a flick of the wrist, poof! Sudden order!  Broken things fixed!  Space widened. Bills paid and thousands in the bank!  Laughter and dancing!  Such wishful thinking!  But this is real life, not a magical imaginary land where everything is perfect or handled with a flick of the wrist. 

​Then, I go back to “ahh,” the quiet of the morning.  Fresh. New.  Quiet.  A few moments left to allow my soul to breathe.  The suns light is now reflecting on the leaves of the trees outside of my window.  Beautiful lime green leaves placed upon the backdrop of a baby blue sky.  Oh to linger a little longer without my mind spinning perpetually and worrying about the day at hand.  Nature.  It provides my soul with quiet peace.  Morning by morning new mercies I see. 

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
    His mercies never cease.
23 Great is his faithfulness;
    his mercies begin afresh each morning. 
Lamentations 3: 22,23 NLT

Creeeeekkk!  My heart sank as I suddenly heard the squeaking floor above my head.  That could only mean one thing.  He’s up! My silence is now erased and my thoughts are consumed with those tasks that I’d like to escape.  The newness of early morning has quickly faded and the air conditioner blowing informs me that it’s going to be another hot day.  I ask myself again, why do I live in south Louisiana?! Then I am reminded that godliness with contentment is great gain! …follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.  1 Timothy 6:6,11
My heart is pricked with conviction for it’s the faith, love and patience part that I have trouble with! The longer I sit here and write, the more that the words LOVE and PATIENCE scream out.  Love is patient and kind, not selfish.
​Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures. 1 Corin. 13:7 NCV 

​The same is true with the love from the Lord.  He is always patient with me.  He is kind and entrusts me with many things.  He is the God of hope.
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Rom. 15:13
His love for me is unfailing and always enduring. Ps. 136 makes it quite evident!
​
My heart strives for this kind of character (love and patience) and to make it more evident in my actions! 

​It is in the quiet places that I am reminded of all that God is to me!  Life is rarely quiet.  We must make time for it. 
                           Desire it. 
                                    Seek it. 
                                          Demand it. 
                                                    Savor it. 
                                                           Secure it!
And in those quiet places, allow your soul to breathe in the beauty of the Holy.  You are His beloved.  He has much to share with you if you’ll take time away…truly away…to hear His still small voice.  It only becomes more recognizable when the chaos is broken by silence.  Even now I am reminded that the words “Silent” and “Listen” contain the same letters! 

It is at the heart of Restore Ministries to help provide women with an opportunity for rest and silence.  Our next overnight retreat is September 30, 2017.  Plan to join us on the beautiful grounds of The Solomon Episcopal Conference Center as we Awaken to the Pursuit of the Bridegroom. 

Until then, here is a small list of quiet places that I like to visit:

• My porch
• Hilltop Arboretum near the pond
• Our Lady of the Lake Hospital Chapel
• A room at the Library
• A drive to St. Francisville or Mandeville
• The courtyard at Bocage shopping center when the shops are closed
• Hotel lobby
• A stay over night in a Hotel
• Tunica Hills
• A friends house or porch when they are gone [Get permission first! :~}]
• Percy Quinn State Park
• The Burden Center – Rural Life Gardens
• Bike ride around the LSU Lakes
• Top of the State Capitol

 
Where do you go?  Share with us your special place!
Sherry

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