Open our mouth and fill it with your praise, that we may be able without distraction to sing and confess that you are God.. St. Basil’s Prayer
I’ve never been one for keeping a frantic life pace or a packed calendar. I value the spaces in between work hours, life work, social events and community engagements. I don’t want to live a life of repeatedly catching up and inevitably crashing in an exhausted heap. I don’t want my epitaph to be she checked off all the items on her to-do list.
Unclaimed and unstructured space is necessary to restore body, mind, spirit, and heart; it widens my perspective, helping me see myself and my neighbors. It clears away the distractions of my activities and commitments, and opens the door to the place I meet God.
I don’t want to miss out on the singing and confessing because I’m too distracted by worldly cares and commitments. I don’t want to live that life.
Does anyone?
I love that epitaph—a few days ago Richard Rohr, in his daily meditation, talked about how he has phased into a form of prayer he calls Gazing. Just sitting and looking without judgment. He told of sitting on a bench with his dog and just gazing for an hour and a half.
What a blessed way to spend time well. Thanks, David! Peace, Johnna