The Art of Just Being

Sundays are crazy busy. Usually by the time I slow down and take a breath, the world has flown past and it is time for bed. They are usually filled with stress, confusion, wild craziness, overscheduling... yeah and I love every minute of it normally.

Today was different. You might ask, how?
Easy answer -- I started it in silent prayerful meditation. Normally my Sundays start focused on such crazy energy that it is pure adrenaline. Today was not adrenaline. Today was passion. Today was the spirit. That is the only way I can explain it. I turned off all the lights in my office, lit a candle and prayed.

If someone had told me several months ago, that I would find time in my Sunday to stop and be, I would have laughed at them. Sundays are noisy. There is no other way of putting it. It is not bad noise, in fact on the contrary, Sundays rock. They are usually so full of busyness that it is awesome. The difference however, is because I started the day in peace, my day was a lot more peaceful.

I have been talking to my youth alot about prayer. Teaching people about how important prayer and quiet time is in this overscheduled world is hard. People don't want to think about adding one more thing to their schedules. That was the beauty of this though. I was sitting checking email, saw my candle I frequently use for quiet time and just did it.

2 months ago, ridding my head of the noise was difficult. Concentrating on my breathing and nothing else took alot of effort but not as much now. It is amazing when you slow the world down, how awake your senses become. I was drinking green tea (who would've thought). The flavors intensified because I had released the other noise. Candles are amazing. Watching them flicker and the light dancing and brightening is mesmerizing. When watching a candle during prayer time, the light is that much more amazing.

I spent time quietly going through my day. I spent time focusing on the things of my day that normally bring me stress and releasing those things from me. I focused on last Sunday and how energized and joyful the experiences were. I focused on my youth and the encounters I would have with them over the course of the day. I focused on just be-ing. I focused on not focusing.

So, what did I get from that whole experience. I was energized. I felt lighter and ready to take on whatever was thrown my way and just really concentrated on enjoying the day. The ease of the day, in all its busyness, did not seem quite as busy. And now as the day closes, I am still more excited for my passions, my vision and my calling. I am excited for the changes that are happening around me and with me and I want to share that with everyone I see.

How simple it was to just start the day in silence communing my spirit with God.
AMEN