Pause

Chill, relax, enjoy...these are words not readily appreciated in our society for work has replaced play, deadlines the anthesis of accomplishment and sixty hour work weeks the norm. Long gone are the days of running through the streets, playing tag, without a care int he world. As adults, we have responsibilities for which we are accountable, our paycheck is contingent upon and proportional to our work production. What about our accountability to God? In conforming to the societal standards, we have become constricted by our own breath as we quickly learn how to compartmentalize faith, work, peace and joy. Life often becomes a glimpse into the person of Cybil; constantly changing personalities that we may accomplish the task at hand with fluency and pride. What if our only task was to live a life of peace, enveloped in unconditional love via active faith?  Should we choose active faith, then life, as we know it, becomes defined by faith reversing our need for compartmentalized attitudes and actions. Romans 14:19 reminds us, “Let us then pursue what leads to peace and to building up one another”. Pursuing peace can mean retreats, hours of meditation and deep reflective prayer; but, it can also mean just being, just doing, just living faith, living love. Sure, deadlines still exist, but our existence will hold a much more serene, a much more compassionate existence.  Now is the time, the world may be on pause but it is not on mute; God calls out, He calls upon us to build up each other in love but first, we must know true love.  We must settle from within, step back and reevaluate our actions, reevaluate our anticipations that we may confidentially settle into this moment, minded by faith and motivated by love.  Worry, stress, these are for those who doubt, those who forget or misunderstand the promise of Christ.  So much more can be accomplished when worry is discarded for stress only inhibits our actions where love and peace bring solace and a clear mind. Living faith permits the rational mind to think, to create, to be productive without the threat of pride and the intent of boastful actins.  Active faith opens our eyes that we may see and act with the heart, hear and listen with the heart for our understanding of the heart is not limited by human tongue.  We come to understand God’s dwelling is within our being and we, within Him; our oneness makes us whole.   Sometimes it is necessary to just stop, breath and, yes, relax. It is in this moment that our eyes become open to the chaotic surrounds of our person, surroundings which  language deems normal, yet our heart is able to speak, softly, tenderly but emphatically...STOP. We know who we are, we are our faith, God speaks...we must listen...what do we hear? Do we hear commotion or a gentle howl of the wind? Are we answering with our heart or our mind? To live our faith is to be at peace in a chaotic world, wrangled with grief, drowned in hatred and filled with deadlines. To live our faith is to live the love and be peace for one another. Life will spin, twist and make absolutely no sense, it is in these times that we are called to hold on tight and live. Chill, relax, enjoy...these are words that become a reality when we learn not to compartmentalize; rather, live our faith and in turn, live God.