Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen: Pausing

"Remain in him.” – 1 Jn 2:28

For me, the past few weeks have been a flurry of activities: traveling, gift giving, resolution making, to name a few. As I enter 2015, I notice a desire to pause a little more, to take some time of quiet, to let the blessings of Christmas and the New Year sink in, to allow the mystery of a God who delights and longs to dwell deeper in me and my relationships. The first reading today speaks six times of remaining or resting in what gives us life.

I am invited to pause and rest in grace. It may not be long, or something grand. It is simply encountering the divine in me, in this present moment with its obvious and disguised blessings. Short pauses welcoming grace that opens up greater meaning and attentiveness. Three times a day makes a difference in my pilgrim path today.

Terry Hershey’s poem from his The Power of Pause helps me take these short pauses:

"What if life isn’t about finishing on top,

but knowing when to stop?

What if life isn’t about learning to live with stress,

but learning to live with less?

What if life isn’t about pushing yourself to the limit,

but embracing everything minute?

What if life isn’t about constant action,

but [forgoing] distraction?

What if life isn’t about what you chase,

but resting in God's grace?"

Lord, help me rest more in Your love and care today and focus less on my agendas, expectations or worries.