I just spent about 28 hours in my minivan traveling across 6 states with my family. My alone time is usually my quiet time, however that just isn't possible in such cramped quarters. Although in this cartoon a kid is missing, I wasn't wearing polk-a-dots, nor did I stick my head out the window in the dead of winter, I found that there was a profound truth here for me!
Mommy needs her quiet time!
The only literal quiet time I had was when I was trying to sleep. Otherwise, my quiet time fell into the category of more like personal time. In personal time I got to pick the music, escape into my books, and reflect on the audio words of C.S. Lewis in the Screwtape Letters. I found my quiet time was very similar to home life...moments of quiet, stolen while the kids were watching a movie or sleeping. The biggest difference was the scenery and the lack of space to stretch my legs.
I was again reminded of God's presence in my life no matter where I am. I saw Him in the beauty of the snow dusted New Mexico landscape as the sun rose. I felt His warmth as I drove through frigid and frozen Arizona with a hot latte in my hand and the steaming, sleepy breath of sleeping kids fogging up the windows. My heart sang along with Rich Mullins through Indian territory where he ministered until the Lord took him home. And my spirit resonated with the stark beauty of a refinery as it glowed with it's own steely beauty, reminding me of the recent refining process in my own life.
I have arrived at my temporary destination and will soon turn around and do it all over again. I am looking forward to the return quiet times, but until then I will enjoy the moments where I can stretch my legs and enjoy His presence in the here.
"I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people'; and each one will say, 'The Lord is my God.'" Zechariah 13:9
Mommy needs her quiet time!
The only literal quiet time I had was when I was trying to sleep. Otherwise, my quiet time fell into the category of more like personal time. In personal time I got to pick the music, escape into my books, and reflect on the audio words of C.S. Lewis in the Screwtape Letters. I found my quiet time was very similar to home life...moments of quiet, stolen while the kids were watching a movie or sleeping. The biggest difference was the scenery and the lack of space to stretch my legs.
I was again reminded of God's presence in my life no matter where I am. I saw Him in the beauty of the snow dusted New Mexico landscape as the sun rose. I felt His warmth as I drove through frigid and frozen Arizona with a hot latte in my hand and the steaming, sleepy breath of sleeping kids fogging up the windows. My heart sang along with Rich Mullins through Indian territory where he ministered until the Lord took him home. And my spirit resonated with the stark beauty of a refinery as it glowed with it's own steely beauty, reminding me of the recent refining process in my own life.
I have arrived at my temporary destination and will soon turn around and do it all over again. I am looking forward to the return quiet times, but until then I will enjoy the moments where I can stretch my legs and enjoy His presence in the here.
"I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people'; and each one will say, 'The Lord is my God.'" Zechariah 13:9