The Quiet Bench – Part 2

During my quiet time morning, a yellowed page saved from somewhere long ago fluttered from my Bible. Looking at it, I realized it was one of those ‘Ah-Ha’ moments . . . an Divine addendum to the ‘The Quiet Bench’ musing posted yesterday on my blog.

I don’t remember where I found this eloquent writing, or it’s author, but as I made my way outside to my ‘Quiet Bench’ to thank God felt it was worth sharing. May it encourage you as it has me.

“He went out in the field one evening to meditate.” – Genesis 24:63

We would be better Christians if we spent more time alone, and we would actually accomplish more if we attempted less and spent more time in isolation and quiet time waiting upon God.

The world has become too much a part of us, and we are afflicted with the idea that we are not accomplishing anything unless we are always busy running back and forth. We no longer believe in the importance of a calm retreat where we sit silently in the shade. As the people of God we have become entirely too practical. We believe in having “all our irons in the fire” and all the time we spend away from the anvil or fire is wasted time. Yet our time is never more profitable spent than when we set aside time for quiet meditation, talking with God, and looking up to heaven. We can never have too many of these open spaces in life – hours set aside when our soul is completely open and accessible to any heavenly thought or influence that God may be pleased to send our way.

Someone once said, “Meditation is the Sunday of the mind.” In these hectic days we should often give our mind a “Sunday”, a time in which it will do no work but instead will simply be still, look heavenward, and spread itself before the Lord like Gideon’s fleece, allowing itself to be soaked with the moisture of the dew of heaven. We should have intervals of time when we do nothing, and plan nothing but simply lie on the green lap of nature and “rest a while.” –Mark6:31

Time spent in this way is not lost time. A fisherman does not say he is losing time when he is mending his nets, nor does a gardener feel he has wasted his time by taking a few minutes to sharpen the blades on his mower. And people living in cities today would do well to follow the example of Issac as often as possible visit the fields of the countryside, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. After having grown weary from the heat and noise of the city, communion with nature is very refreshing and will bring a calming healing influence. A walk through a field, a stroll by a seashore, or a hike across a meadow sprinkled with daises will purge you of the impurities of life and will cause your heart to beat with new joy and hope.

The little cares that worried me,

I lost them yesterday,

Out in the fields with God

Author Unknown

Keep Looking Up^ . . . Best is Yet to Come!