May the mumbling commence!
What a wonderful weekend of retreat! It can be jarring to return to every-day mundane life. Help me, O Holy Spirit, to retain an awareness of my Lord during this week. God is everywhere. I am tempted to stay in the Tent of Meeting, so to speak, like Joshua son of Nun did. Read from Exodus chapter thirty-three:
It was Moses' custom to set up the tent known as the Tent of Meeting far outside the camp. Everyone who wanted to consult with the Lord would go there.
Whenever Moses went out to the Tent of Meeting, all the people would get up and stand in their tent entrances. They would all watch Moses until he disappeared inside. As he went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and hover at the entrance while the Lord spoke with Moses. Then all the people would stand and bow low at their tent entrances. Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, stayed behind in the Tent of Meeting. (Verses 7-11)
While Moses left the Tent of Meeting to interact with the fickle people of God, Joshua remained inside. Have you ever wondered why? Have you ever wondered what might have been happening between the Lord and Joshua?
It would be nice to be able to dwell on the mountaintop experiences indefinitely. But we are called to return to the valleys of our lives. That point is clear. We see it as Jesus leads Peter, James and John down the mountainside after the Transfiguration (Mt 17:1-8, Mk 9:2-8, Lk 9:28-36).
So, how do we remain aware of God? Look to Jesus. See what Jesus does when life becomes too busy. Look, see, and imitate. Read from Mark chapter one:
The next morning Jesus awoke long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray.
Later Simon and the others went out to find him. They said, "Everyone is asking for you."
But he replied, "We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too, because that is why I came." So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and expelling demons from many people. (Verses 35-39)
Jesus was being bombarded with people who came to him needing healing. Jesus showed them his compassion and healed them. Yet, Jesus also found time to get away and pray… to listen for the Voice of God to direct him. There are many good things to do in this world… but they may not be the thing that God is calling us to do at this moment in our lives.
To do what God is calling us to do is the godly thing to be doing. Jesus found his calling through an active and vibrant prayer life. Does this mean that you and I need to use the wee hours of the morning to set ourselves apart and pray? No.
But it does mean that we need to set aside time sometime during our day to pray and listen for the Voice of God in our lives. It means we need to practice our awareness of God in all things… including in ourselves. It does mean that we need to develop a daily awareness like the awareness that we attain as we walk a labyrinth. Yes! Let’s live a labyrinth life.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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