Hanging Out with God

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

 

Shannon and I have spent nearly 20 years of life together in marriage.  We’ve had much to talk about!  We started our married years with me in seminary and Shannon working as a psych nurse at the VA in Minneapolis.  I shared my classroom learning…she shared her interesting experiences.  While there we had many hours of wondering where we would end up once I became a pastor.  We assumed it would be Iowa or Wisconsin, but God had other ideas.  Once we received our assignment, we spent many hours discussing the merits of life in small town Illinois!  Once at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Benson, IL, I got to tell her my experiences as a new pastor.  When Ben came along we wrestled with the best way to raise him and Shannon got to tell me what it was like to be a stay at home mom in a town of 400 people.  While in Illinois, Shannon started her business and we spent many hours together planning for the future, considering the best way to move Treefrog Treasures forward.  After 6 ½ years in Illinois we felt God calling us back to Minnesota, so we spent many long hours wondering what that meant for us. 

After moving to Eyota life changed significantly.  I went from a stable rural congregation to a new, cutting edge one.  I ran many ideas past my wife.  She grew her business, employing staff and building a warehouse.  She wanted my input.  For over eight years now we’ve had cancer to talk about, pondering her latest treatments and the effects they’ve had on her.  For so many years we’ve had much to talk about.  We’ve made time to talk…and to listen.

Not every moment of our relationship has been in conversation.  We’ve also spent time hanging out, just being with each other.  Words aren’t always needed.  Whether we’re in the boat fishing…or watching a movie…or quietly reading books together, spending quiet time together is important to any relationship.  Sometimes you need to quit talking…and just BE!

Over the past month I’ve realized the importance of this, not just in my marriage, but in my relationship with God! 

My prayer life over the years has involved a lot of talking…most of it by me.  I come to God with concerns and requests.  I ponder the ways that God works in the world.  I thank God for God’s goodness…and complain to God when things go wrong.  I praise God for the love that God has for me…and I wonder aloud why people suffer.  Talk…talk…talk! 

About the time that school started this fall I started a new spiritual practice…quietly hanging out with God.  Life got so hectic that I had a hard time slowing down, so (with some help and direction) I tracked down a couple YouTube videos of rivers rushing over some rapids.  For four minutes a day I sit and stare into that rushing water.  I seek to clear my mind…and simply BE with God.  No talking.  No planning.  No pondering.  Just time being in God’s presence.  The sight and sound of the water helps to clear my mind.  Some days it’s a challenge…my mind wants to plan the next thing on the calendar, but the rushing waters bring my mind back to God.  It’s brought a sense of peace and rest.  It becomes an oasis in the midst of a hectic schedule.  Intentionally spending time with God puts many things into perspective!

Four minutes.  It’s actually not much time, but it’s been a good beginning for me.  Sometimes I need to quit talking and just BE.  Me…hanging out with God!  I highly recommend it!