Fourth of July Prayer

When the stay-at-home orders began a few months ago, I entertained the foolhardy notion that I would begin training for a half marathon! (What was I thinking - running a 5K already felt like a herculean feat??!!) I ignored the fact that my foot was aching from plantar fasciitis and went racing full steam ahead.

However, the more I pressed on, the more my foot ached. Reluctantly, I came to the humbling realization that in order to move ahead, I actually needed to slow down and take time to rest.

Over the past few months, we all have been racing full steam ahead - pause, learn, pivot, change, adapt, act, react, repeat. We have been pressing on through it all and I sense that we are collectively aching and exhausted.

We may need to face the humbling realization that in order to move ahead, we need to create space for rest, prayer and spiritual sustenance for our weary souls? 

What might a little soul-care look like for you this summer? Maybe it is something as simple as...

• giving yourself a single minute of silent prayer between activities. 

• allowing yourself to claim a moment of joy by reading the comics.

• taking a 10 minute nap in the middle of the afternoon.

• posting a favorite scripture someplace you will see regularly.

• playing music that soothes your soul.

I encourage us all to embrace a little summer soul-care and take the opportunity to slow down, rest and prepare for the marathon ahead. 

God is good... all the time. May we pause long enough to have eyes to see and ears to hear.