Once we have found our quiet place, how long can we stay there?

We all need a place that we can find peace, tranquility or a safe place. But once we find that place, can we keep it? Or is it better to ask, do we want to keep it? How many of us have busy lives? We have kids, work and our own relationships. We have responsibilities to our families, our jobs, our churches and someplace in the mix, to ourselves.
Many times, the part of ourselves, gets lost or buried in all that “must do”, or at least what we believe we need to do. A good example of this is this blog entry.  The last time I wrote here was in July of this year. Can I give a good excuse as to why I have not posted? Most certainly, however, does that excuse have anything to do with why I have not taken the time to write? Well no.
From the time of my last post many things have happened, some good, some not so good, some happy and some sad. Suffice it to say all these things have gotten in my way. I have allowed myself to become complacent, overwhelmed and even lazy at times. The turbulence that I found myself in was much like a hurricane, or sometimes like a tornado, seemingly coming out of nowhere and disrupting everything I was trying to do.
Why did I let this happen? Well, the short answer is that I am human. I do not have a cape or a flashy costume that helps me fight off all that I allowed to take up my time.  Rather than keeping myself focused on all that I needed to do, I allowed myself to lose sight of my quiet place, I allowed myself to think I did not need a quiet place. However, I was wrong. I was wrong to think that I did not need a moment alone each day. I was wrong to think that I did not need a respite from all that happens in my day. And I was wrong to think that I could do everything, myself.
We learn in Mark 6:31, after the disciples had told Jesus all that they had done, and taught, he told them to “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Before Jesus fed the 5000, he told those closest to them to take time for themselves, to rest and to eat before they faced the crowds of people waiting for Jesus.  Jesus also tells us in Matthew 6:5 of the importance of having a quiet place when he tells us, “when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen.”
In both verses we learn of the importance to have someplace quiet, someplace away from troubles of the day. Someplace where we can talk to God, where we can nourish our hearts with His word, and take time to rest our minds that we may not be over whelmed with all the world places before us.
So, this week will you take the time to find your quiet place?
 
Pastor Lisa
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