Reflection

So much changes as the years begin to add up.  There are the obvious things like dark thick hair becoming thin and gray, an awareness that memory is getting longer than projected future, and opening the gate to the pasture fence instead of climbing over it.  But, a not so obvious change is the move from planning to reflection.  In those days which are called the working days, there was too much hurrying for any serious reflection to take place, but now as the pace has slowed, there seems to be much time to reflect on what is past and what is happening in the present moment as well.    

If I could remake myself and do over some of the past, it would include more quiet time, more empty space on the calendar, and less doing and more thinking.  Jesus seems to have figured this one out.  He was not adverse to leaving what most would say simply could not be left and going off somewhere to be where He could hear the Father's voice and the voice of His own spirit.  When we no longer have time to hear the Voice that belongs to our Creator, we wander away from out roots and when we are no longer able to hear the voice within us, we are allowing other voices to direct our way.    

It would probably be a good thing for each one of us to include moments for reflection within each day we are given.  Where is it we hear the voice of God and where is it that we experience His presence?  What ordinary moments were the burning bushes we missed seeing?  And, how is that we listened to our true self in the day which has run its course?   Of course, no one can tell us the questions our living raises for reflection.  But, if we listen with an expectant heart, we will find the ones which will take us to important moments of knowing what exists just beyond the realm of the visible in our life.