He (Saul) waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel, but Samuel did not come…. And he (Saul) offered the burnt offering…. Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord…. The Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever, but now your kingdom will not continue….” 1Samuel 13: 8-15.
Saul gets a little impatient and forever loses his kingdom, for himself and his heirs. A harsh lesson wouldn’t you say? I was a little impatient on Monday trying to find the right meditation, and when it didn’t just come right out, I wrote something that wasn’t what I wanted. I got in a hurry. I forgot one of the basic lessons of Lenten meditations. I needed to take the time in solitude to think and let the my thoughts coalesce and simply listen. It is easy these days to be impatient. We live in a culture that accelerates the number of things we are supposed to do in a day. It seems that every time-saving device is really a tool for others to put more demand on our time.
A wonderful friend explained to me that sitting in the quiet gathering one’s thoughts, listening for inspiration was ”okay.” He said, “ Do you think anyone walked by Einstein sitting in his study with his eyes closed thought, ‘what a waste? Why isn’t he doing something?’ No, they would say, ‘Be quiet, Mr. Einstein is thinking.”
Now I am neither Einstein nor Saul, but I know that Lent teaches us, if we practice, the value of quiet reflection. It cannot be rushed or distracted. The quiet prepares us for God’s call, and brings us a stillness to our lives. This Lent take time to immerse yourself in the Peace of God and wait patiently. It will be like you have “dipped your toes in magic waters.”
Webb
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