1231700_10152244067744741_41480083_nIf you follow me on social media, you know about my swing. I talk about it quite a bit, as it’s a place of respite for me.

Lately, however, I’ve had no time for its pleasures. The pace of my life has taken a turn that even NASCAR would envy, and being a person who doesn’t handle that speed very well, at least for very long, I’ve been looking longingly out the window at my wooden friend, wishing for a moment or two to enjoy its company.

That moment came this weekend.

Saturday, Kevin had a special reunion of sorts, on the golf course, with a bunch of his old football friends and coaches, and Sunday, he and Maddie spent the afternoon on some barn projects. I had two whole days basically to myself. It was quiet in the house, and while I had some things to accomplish, they were things I really wanted to do, and they had no deadlines, or agenda to be followed.

It was bliss.

The weather turned oh-so-slightly this weekend, so that by last evening at dusk, it was really pleasant. The swing sits just on the precipice of a drop-off to the lower pasture, and seems to be placed in a sweet-spot where a breeze is always blowing. I walked out there and just sat for half an hour. Prayed some, but mainly listened. I watched dragonflies and birds. A deer passed way down below. The crazy rooster down the way was crowing, obviously confused at the time.

I felt my frazzled spirit calm, and the jumbled pieces of my life start to shift into place.

I know there are people who don’t crave the quiet and still like I do. I have enough introvert in me to actually need it to function; a demand from my body to stop and regroup. But I think we all should do it. We live in a world whose dizzying pace and constant noise is blinding us from staying connected to our Center. We can’t hear a single thing He is saying, or notice much of anything He is doing, because we are so caught up in the chaos of 21st century life.

So, I beg you…find your swing.

When you do, you’ll find something you didn’t know you were missing, and you’ll be overcome with thanks.

 

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 NLT

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” Psalm 37:7 ESV

“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.” Psalm 62:5 ESV