I’ve been trying to write this devotion for weeks. I thought maybe I’d write about this or that, but nothing seemed quite fitting. My brain feels like cotton balls, all mushy and soft, not able to form complete thoughts. The thoughts are fleeting, like two dragonflies chasing each other on air waves.
I thought, “I’ll go for a long walk,” which usually helps align the puzzle pieces. Sunday was a beautiful “fallish” day. My dog, Landy, and I walked our normal long path. I breathed in sun shined grass, noticed the shadow of leaves along the sidewalk, saw beautiful late summer flowers in a garden.
Yet, still, my mind was a jumble. *deep sigh*
Scrolling Instagram later, I stumbled across a post by Sarah Bessey (shout out to boss Kelly for gifting me Bessey’s Rhythm of Prayer devotional a few months ago). In the post, Bessey writes:
“When the world is struggling or when we are exhausted, we are invited to the holy conversation of noticing… Noticing the breath in your lungs, the wind, the cadence of Psalms in your bones even still, the wild waves of grass in the prairie, the prospect ahead of a cuppa tea, and a hand to hold while you fall asleep… This is how we catch our breath. This is why noticing can also be a form of prayer and of praise and even of worship again…”
My last Treasure Valley devotion was about noticing God moments, and this post from Bessey feels similar. These words couldn’t have come at a better time for me, personally. I took a deep breath. I’m recognizing that these small moments throughout my day, like the things I noticed on my walk, are what help me feel connected to God. They are invitations to pause, invitations to have a conversation with God. The ordinarily glorious moments are the altars of God’s sanctuary. The things I noticed on my walk and throughout my day on Sunday were steadily connecting me to God.
We have all these big rocks we’re carrying, stresses and struggles that feel heavy on our shoulders or our hearts. It is exhausting thinking of stress at work and then the geopolitical climate and then what to make for dinner, all in a 10 second window. God is inviting us to slow down and pause. Notice the moments in your life that are invitations to feel restored.
Saving my life these days (things that are helping me to slow down and notice):
- Homemade pumpkin bread
- The Habit app
- Central Park playlist on Spotify
- Going to bed at 8:30
- The new season of Great British Bake Off
- Brown sugar lattes with my new espresso machine
- Repotting a houseplant for a friend
- A long walk along the greenbelt with Pastor Connie
- Just the thought of a rainy morning where I can lay in and read a book (I mean, really)
- Therapy
- Giving myself grace (you can never give yourself too much grace, remember that)
- Cozy sweaters
- Crossword puzzles
Good and gracious God, help us to notice your invitation to a holy conversation. May we catch our breath in these small moments and connect to you fully throughout our day. May our souls – and our brains – feel restored by your peace. Amen.
Let us pray...
Good and gracious God, help us to notice your invitation to a holy conversation. May we catch our breath in these small moments and connect to you fully throughout our day. May our souls – and our brains – feel restored by your peace. Amen.
Brooke Freiheit
Communication Coordinator, Luther Heights Bible Camp
