Read, Reflect, Respond, REST

Sometimes we wonder where things come from that enter into our mind and seem to latch onto the old gray matter.  Perhaps, seeing something brings to the surface some buried and forgotten memory.  And, other times, the Spirit who dwells within us leads us down a spiritual journey not anticipated.  So, it was that I found myself thinking about God creating and resting on the seventh day.  I found myself wondering if He spent the time sitting, experiencing, and being midst the creation.  And if He rested midst the creation on that seventh day, did He listen, watch, and feel the glory of the created order which was all around Him?

Maybe such a reflection came from thinking about "Lectio Divina."  After the reading comes the reflection and after the reflection comes the responding and after the responding comes the resting.  The final part of this spiritual discipline, the resting, is not about nodding, or sleeping.  It is about being.  The first three parts bring us to this final place where sitting quietly in the silence of the room as well as in the silence of our heart is what we do.  It is the moment for listening for the Voice.  It is the moment where He is given free reign to do or say whatever.  It is a moment emptied of expectations.  It is a moment filled with anticipation of Presence.

Of all the movements of "Lectio Divina" this may be the hardest for it is the most unnatural for us.  It is also the final part of the discipline which might lend itself to hurrying so we can get on to whatever it is that may be starting to press in upon us.  However, more than at any point, it is imperative that we simply breathe in and out and refuse the spirit of hurry to drive us prematurely to the moment of being with God.  Being with God is not a moment we want to miss.