Quiet Time

I’m not a cat person… but if watching two hours of kittens on YouTube makes my kids quiet for that time… I’m all for it.  I spent one day, about 2 hours just watching kittens grow from day 1 to day 68.  What did I learn?  Nothing!  And it was awesome.  For 2 hours, my brain wasn’t thinking, stressing, or pondering, it was numb… the pure definition of mindless.  For 2 hours, my kids did not fight, did not fuss, did not say a word, it was total peace.  The kids just mesmerized at the kittens from day 1 to 68. 

Sometimes that is what you need in life.  Just a moment in which there is nothing.  Your mind goes blank, all those worries, all those cares just goes away for that moment.  As a parent, that was the moment I needed.  I am so thankful to God that for 2 hours the kids just behaved, and did not fight, no yelling, nobody getting ouchies… just…. Awesome.

Which is also another thing about kids… why in the world do kids behave so dang well in public, but are hooligans at home?  I don’t know if anyone ever had that problem.  Like, whenever we go to church, or at a friend’s house, or Walmart, or the grocery store, the kids are just calm, cool, patient, and polite.  But when they are at home, it’s like they have entered the octagon at the most hyped up UFC fight.  I might be exaggerating a bit…

But they are totally different in public.  Maybe it’s because they are more shy in public than at home?  But there are some days in which I wish that was flipped…. You know?  Let them just run a much in Walmart and at the mall, then at home, they just sit there are draw or read or something.  I dunno, it’s a catch 22 right?  If they misbehave in public, then I’ll feel embarrassed and wished the other way around. 

Kids are kids, they are like little punk rockers and their world is a little mosh pit.  But last week, for 2 hours, just watching kittens on YouTube was awesome, and well needed.  There is a time in which we just need those moments of nothingness and peace.

Always takes me back to the Bible passage in 1 Kings 19:11-13.  Elijah is running for his life.  He has angered a bunch of people who worshipped Baal, and He is instructed by God to stand on the mountain because God is going to “pass by.”  While Elijah hid in the mountain, he heard a great and powerful wind, that broke apart rocks, then he felt an earthquake, and then he saw fire, but Elijah knew God was not in the fire, earthquake or wind.  It only what followed all these marvelous and powerful events, was a gentle whisper.  Elijah knew, in that subtle, gentle, quiet whisper was God “passing by.”  He took notice, covered his face and stood at the entrance of the cave of the mountain.  Then God spoke.

There is always so much to worry about, there is always a ton of work to be done, there is always something waiting around the corner that gives us that feeling of dread.  There is just so much noise, distractions, and violence that we see happening before us.  Best thing we need in our life is that moment of stillness, that moment of nothingness, even for just a moment.  Because in that moment after the winds, earthquakes, and fire, comes a whisper, and it is the voice of God telling us, “What are you doing here?”

​It is in that moment God is calling out to us, asking us, “Where is your mind going?  Just for one moment be still and wait.  Don’t fuss and worry about what is going on out there, but be on this mountain with me, just for this moment.  You need this, and I am there with you.  Now… let’s just watch these kittens for two hours everyone.”  Thank you, God, for giving us these moments of peace for us.  A time in which my little UFC fighters can find rest in you, through this kitty video.  Thank you, God, for letting me not think about anything for that moment, and giving my mind some rest.  The harvest is plentiful and the workers are few.  But these workers need rest too and you give us that in which we gladly accept.  Find your peace, because in your time of rest, God will speak gentle words of guidance. ​