Spirit-Tending in the Fast Lane
Spirit – Tending in the Fast Lane is the newest addition to the FUMC's website. It is a monthly meditation sponsored by the Spiritual Formation Ministry. We hope it will be a useful tool for staying connected to Spirit in the midst of the busyness of life, to stop and remember who and what matters. This page is a work in progress. Let us know what you think. Email Mary Garbesi.
May we suggest that prior to reading the meditation you take a couple of deep breaths, allowing your body to relax and unwind. Then begin reading slowly, giving time for the words to take hold.
Fall is here and with it, all its busy-ness! Even without the back-to school demands and increased work schedules, our culture continually attempts to keep us engaged, distracted, and dissatisfied. Finding and taking time for reflection and silence is very difficult! Yet, because we are so busy and fragmented we need silence and solitude for balance. I believe our souls yearn for this. And it won’t happen without our intentional effort and desire to make it a priority. In Psalm 46:10 God says, “Be still and know that I am God.” Time for solitude and quiet offer us the opportunity to listen for God’s voice – the still, small voice. The prophet Elijah was told by God to go to the mountain and wait. Elijah looked for God in the powerful wind that blew, in the huge earthquake that ruptured the earth, and in the consuming fire, but God was not in any of these. It was only when everything stopped and there was “sheer silence” did he hear the gentle voice of God.
Reflective Moment: If you are honest with yourself, do you feel the need for some solitude and quiet in your life? If so, what keeps you from it? What one change could you make to allow for some regular quiet and solitude? Are you willing to make that change?
Prayer Moment: Loving God, help me find and take the time to listen for your still, small voice. Show me where to make a change and give me the courage and commitment to do it. Thank you for loving me and desiring to communicate with me. Amen.