Greetings to TSJ Friends,
Solomon has asked for a time-out today. He has been working overtime lately and being filled with compassion for all the things that humans have to experience in the pastures of their daily lives, he thought a time-out would be good for him.
He pleaded his case by reminding me that since many schools are closed and most teachers are having a little “time-out too” just maybe he could remind us that learning to take time out can actually be a time for gathering wisdom.
He pointed out that we often force time-outs on children so they can collect their wits and reflect on their behavior for the sake of improvement. He added that sometimes the wisest thing to say is nothing – and learn to listen, and sometimes the wisest thing to do is take a break from doing.
He reminded me that the 23rd Psalm which was written by his favorite shepherd and human mentor (David) insisted that if we rest in the pastures we will not have to worry because the Lord is always with us.
So I relented and said I would write our TSJ letter blog and explain his need for a time out. He gave me that smug smile and his eyes twinkled.
And I agreed that I too would do something simple, – maybe a partial time out – and share someone else’s wisdom for today. . We both agreed it would be good for me to share with you words written by one of my favorite spiritual writers about the journey of the heart, Henri J. M. Nouwen
Your Heart is Where God Loves to Live.
Have you ever thought about how many people own large beautiful homes but are rarely there? In today’s world some people have wonderful homes but little time to live there.
Well, what if our hearts are our home? They always say “Home is where the heart is.”
What if we realized our heart is where Love dwells and Love is of God.?
What if we really understood that we tend to hang out in our heads where thoughts put barriers up to keep us from going deep within to listen to God’s voice?
What if we think of our heart as a place where the Light is always on to show us the way when we are lost in our own dark fears?
I wonder . . .would we be more excited about crossing that long bridge between head and heart regularly throughout our days? We might go home more often. And we might be uplifted and transformed by this marvelous place to go if we took more time-outs from our dark thoughts and relentless pursuits.
I believe we simply need reminders to breathe in the gift of life itself with all its ups and downs and we do that best by touching home base and finding inner solitude – at least a few times a day. I know I do.
With that in mind, here is a section from a complication of Henri Nouwen’s writings in the book – The Only Necessary Thing bu Wendy Wilson Greer
“One of the most notable characteristics of worrying is that it fragments our lives. The many things to do, to think about, to plan for, the many people to remember, to visit, or to talk with, the many causes to attack or defend, all these pull us apart and make us lose our center. Worrying causes us to be “all over the place,” but seldom at home . . . We know where we belong, but we keep being pulled away in many directions, as if we were still homeless. ‘All these other things’ keep demanding our attention. They lead us so far from home that we eventually forget our true address, that is the place where we can be addressed.” (p165)
May we remember “our heart’s address so we can be addressed.” But we must do so with at least short time-outs when all we do is breathe and listen. It takes practice, practice, practice. And in the storms of life we insist on thinking our way out.when rest comes by taking time to “reach in” and listen for God’s voice reminding us of wisdom we already have if we only listen.
With love,
Margie and her favorite muse, Solomon