Have you ever noticed how much our lives resemble a freeway? Once we are on it, we are in constant motion. We must remain alert at all times. We speed up, slow down, and switch lanes. We set our eyes straight ahead, look back from time to time, check our side and rear mirrors periodically, do not make any unexpected turns, and get there before the cars all around us. We cannot brake too soon, accelerate too heavily, or cruise too long. We must always be aware of what is going on around us, lest we miss a sign or clue that could have prevented a fatal accident. It is as though we are competing in a race of some kind. One false move and the whole freeway is stopped or slowed down for hours.
This is life. Yet, it is necessary at times that we exit the freeway of life. This is difficult to do since there are so many demands made upon us. And they are relentless demands.
During the last three years of His life, Jesus was also on a freeway. He was so busy at times that He did not take time to eat. Regularly, however, He retired to quiet spots and prayed to His Father. As we travel the freeway of life, we must realize the importance of exiting on occasion and taking time for refreshing.
One of the most important aspects of the spiritual life is the pauses of rest, silences of grace. It is the time we take to open ourselves to receiving divine peace.
What can inspire more tranquility of mind and soul than the realization that peace and self-fulfillment is not dependent on anything external. Nothing in the outer world can produce the peace and happiness that surpasses all human understanding. It is a peace undisturbed by surrounding events and cannot be intruded upon by the fiercest winds of adversity. God's peace has no relationship to the state of our affairs.
The joy in living emanates from the spiritual realities within that flow incessantly through our being like some remarkable elixir. The silent purling waters that flow through us from the Fountain of living waters calms the turbulent spirit and gives quiet to the restless mind.
The peace that flows from God not only transforms us from within but reforms our outer life. He gives us silence and contentment in our minds, regardless of what exists in our outer world. The hustle and bustle of the day drift away as a tender leaf caught in the throes of the wind. The rat race without becomes as distant as the planets and as meaningless as chasing after the wind. Our souls dwell at ease. No outer disturbance can ruffle the "still waters" within.
Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. http://www.clergyservices4u.org. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, will be available soon.
maide service in Lincolnshire ..An angel can be your best friend. Angels have been... Read More
THE GNOSTICS, ESSENES AND THE 'OCCULT':Throughout this book I have... Read More
Adam had it right when he covered himself with fig... Read More
It's an almost unbelievable thought, but could you be getting... Read More
"What does it profit a man to have gained the... Read More
We all need space, we all need time to ourselves.In... Read More
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. --ROMANS... Read More
A Tarot card deck typically consists of 78 colorful cards... Read More
Connecting with the Moon phases, the Full and New Moon... Read More
Angels are making their presence felt everywhere. Once I started... Read More
Give us today our daily bread. Matthew 6:11 (NIV) We... Read More
This article is a reply that deals with certain criticisms... Read More
About a month ago I opened up my bible in... Read More
An Introduction to MatthewSETTINGHave you ever been promised something wonderful,... Read More
As a child growing up, whenever I was worried about... Read More
Matthew 3:4-6 John Baptizes the People4 Now John wore a... Read More
The Emmaus Journal What is Wrong With Being Common? This... Read More
As you will see I the Scripture verse I will... Read More
Hello, My name is Mellody Davis and here is my... Read More
"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the... Read More
Are you at a crossroad in your life where you... Read More
It is my personal view that the reason we call... Read More
Did we just overlook the amount of love that God... Read More
We have to go through some unfortunate experiences sometimes in... Read More
Does this ever happen to you? You ask God for... Read More
cleaning lady near Deerfield ..Do you want victory in your life? Do you have... Read More
In His graciousness, God has blessed us to enter a... Read More
At first glance it does seem that law and grace... Read More
Stress & Spirituality ? How Spirituality Affects Stress LevelsTake a... Read More
There is a natural tendency to asociate spirituality with religion,... Read More
As we walk along our paths in life, we will... Read More
Most of us have heard talk or have read something... Read More
Setting boundaries is a common expression that we hear almost... Read More
Mrs. Dixon the famous prognosticator and psychic to the stars... Read More
One of the first steps toward understanding the Tarot lies... Read More
2 Corinthians 6:17-6:17For God so loved the world, that He... Read More
The Bible tells us that we need to be led... Read More
It's real easy to look at the physical world around... Read More
When I was 10 years old my father decided to... Read More
I have a confession.I used to have doubts about God's... Read More
If any man be in Christ, he is a new... Read More
Before we tread into the domain of Past Life... we... Read More
Those living on the highest levels of life have learned... Read More
Do you spend your time working towards that "one day... Read More
Greetings Divine Ones, I am going to ask you a... Read More
The Orisha are the Messengers of Oludumare, the God/dess of... Read More
In your quest for enlightenment, always ask what's in it... Read More
One cannot read the account of Benhadad and Hazael in... Read More
Did you ever see something go wrong around you and... Read More
We hear this word so often and have one thing... Read More
Spirituality |