Sometimes I think we humans must resemble pack mules in what we decide to carry around with us, and as the years continue to pass by, the load becomes ever so much more burdensome. So many of us have a very hard time letting go of the things we have collected, from material goods to grudges to memories of people and places we have lived. Our minds tend to multitask in this modern technological world, trying to find order to the many things that demand our attention. I imagine our minds look like an office with computers and file cabinets and storage closets just filled to the brim with things that need our attention or action. Learning to let go is extremely difficult, but once done, it becomes the ultimate GIFT.

We have read the biblical verse that says “Be still….and know that I am God”. It was written as a suggestion to all of us that we are not to be physically or mentally busy every single minute of every single day. My husband used to say that he felt the definition of the devil would have to be the word “busy” because when we are busy, busy, busy…..going and doing…..always in motion, we have no time for contemplation. Very few of us have or allow ourselves spare time to quietly sit in awe of our most Holy God where we can contemplate and give thanks for all He has created and gifted us.

Few of us take the time to quietly ponder the fact that we, you and I, were chosen by God Himself to be brought into this existence. Just think of it! He chose YOU and ME to live this life! This is a powerful statement of affirmation for the times when we wonder about our worth in this life. If God saw the value of “ME” and “YOU” then certainly, who am I to question Him on this?

I firmly believe that our life on earth is an enormous gift to us from our Creator. We are here to learn so many facets of human existence.  We are here to learn and experience firsthand how joy feels, how sadness feels, and how freely given and received love feels. We learn how it feels to experience rejection and physical and emotional pain. We learn about honesty and loyalty and betrayal. We see the sunrises and sunsets and we learn about the vast contrast between light and dark. We experience heat and cold and we feel hunger and satiation. We experience the happiness of being a part of a family and the loneliness that comes from feeling alone due to rejection. I believe that much like when God sent Jesus to earth to walk as a human being among us, He also had a plan for when he created a human being where our spiritual force could take up residence. This earthly life is Gods gift to us to do with as we see fit and he gave us the Bible for guidance.

If one looks at life span statistics, my husband and I are in the early winter of our life. Our lives are winding down and with the exit door not as far off in the distance as it once was, we have felt the need to regroup and rethink our priorities. Time is a very valuable commodity because it is a limited resource. Heaven is eternal but life on earth has an expiration date and we have only so much time. We need to cherish and respect the time we have left not knowing how much there really is going to be of it and use it wisely. While it is good to give to others and serve others, we need to remember that our God given families need us too. Once we have given of ourselves to our families, we can then reach out to serve others.

We have had ups and downs in life…We have had rough patches to get through, and we have had some dark days where We have asked for and received the light of God to show us the way. We haven’t received everything we have wanted in life, but we have been blessed in so many ways We never would have thought of asking for. We can choose to look at the lacks in our life or we can look at the blessings. I, for one, prefer to concentrate on the many blessings.

Do NOT measure your life by anyone else’s life. Our life experience is custom made and uniquely chosen just for us because WE are uniquely made. Follow your instincts, because they are our inner guide as we make choices along our life’s path.

Right now, my husband and I are entering a contemplative period in our life. We are choosing to slow down and take time to reach an awareness we haven’t had in a while because of overfull schedules. We want to step back out of the frenzy and negativity of this modern world and just “BE”. We want to “BE STILL…and KNOW”

When was the last time you were still and reflected on the source of your existence? Maybe the time is now!

Jjb/11/15/2018