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Take the time

 

I recently signed up for an online spiritual retreat. Being very organised and task oriented I was a little disturbed at the lack of structure, especially when it was taking a good part of my day which I had to re-arrange. I was in fact, a little anxious about what it would be like.

I need not have worried; it was well worth it!

We started via a TEAMS video meeting at 10 am. After introductions, the Spiritual Director gave us options on how we might use our day. We were then free to spend time with Jesus until checking in at 2.30 pm for the last hour to share.

As it was a cold, miserable day I decided to stay at home with the heat pump blasting. My husband stayed in his workshop, and I turned off all devices, so there were no distractions.

It was interesting once we got back together, to discover how others had used their day. One participant took off to the beach to watch the waves and God met her there. One lady read a book, but God met her there. Few used the booklet provided but God, of course, meets us where-ever we are. Being a ‘good’ (old) lady who plays by the rules, I of course elected to use the booklet and found it a useful tool to guide me into the presence of God. After all the nervousness about the day, it was a complete blessing spending all those hours with God. Hours I would not find in my normal busy routine.

My takeaways?

1.     Limitations and boundaries are perfectly acceptable. So, my lack of energy to be doing more is God’s boundary for me. I must not compare myself to others who may seem to be doing more than I am in service. So, no more guilt, just a wonderful feeling of relief and security in whom God made me to be, in waiting for his leading, and for the work he is currently doing in me.

2.     I was reading Jeremiah 18:1-4 and thought about myself as a vessel. I thought of my early days when the vessel God had formed became very ugly and misshapen when as a young woman I walked away from him. He, however, reclaimed me and made me into something beautiful. Then, I drew a big round vessel shape and allocated room for each of my past responsibilities. The base was family and friends, then partway up was church, followed by a large piece labelled work and service. At the top, right near the opening was a small circle labelled ‘God’. Having pondered on that shape, I then drew a completely different shape to represent my life now. I apportioned out my time again. This time it was easy to see how much the space for God had grown. As I have aged, I have recognised my need for God so much more. I have desired passionately to have a closer relationship with him. Being retired certainly helped in that respect, because the only way we can achieve these goals is to spend more time with him.

What a blessing the day was. I was so thankful I had made the effort to rearrange my day to spend it with God.

Try working some special time with God into your schedule; you will not be disappointed.

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