A few weeks ago, I got the chance to leave the city for a few days to attend a retreat. It was a beautiful spring weekend, and the theme of the retreat was “Rest for the Restless.” We spent time reflecting on what it truly means to rest in God. On one afternoon, I attended a workshop outside, during which we took a walk around the retreat grounds by ourselves, in silence, just taking in whatever caught our interest and studying God’s creation. I was surprised by how much peace this brought me. I know, of course, that I check my phone too frequently, that I move at a frenzied pace and have trouble slowing down and collecting my thoughts, that I ought to take more time for quiet reflection; but what I didn’t realize is just how much difference a few minutes of intentional silence could make. Tearing myself away from the perpetual distractions of this world, difficult though it may be, is vital to my spiritual well being.
This is one of the simplest spiritual exercises you can put into practice, but it just might be powerful for you, too: Open your eyes. Turn off your phone. Look at the trees, the ephemeral spring blossoms, the rain rolling down your windowpane or the grasses being swayed back and forth by the invisible wind. Push away your to-do list and your worries and your plans for just a few minutes, and allow yourself to sit in the silence, observing God’s creation. Open your eyes to notice His presence in every little thing around you. Pay attention to the sounds of birdsong, or the smoothness of creek pebbles, or the way a tree’s branches look when you lie on the ground and look up at them—like roots reaching up toward the heavens. Let go of your own self-importance, of your tunnel vision around “productive” activities, of your fixation on other people’s expectations instead of God’s expectations of you. Breathe in the truth that He is greater than all our worries, and He is with us through it all, in every detail of our lives. He has created a world that teaches us His love for us and His plan for us; all we need to do is keep our eyes and our ears open and pay attention. The spring blossoms fade quickly, and after that, summer will be here and gone before you know it. And after that, the fall leaves will pass in a blaze of glory: Don’t miss it. Don’t be so caught up in the daily grind that you miss the simple, passing joys that God has set out for you.
