Have you ever opened up to a “random” page at the Bible and had something jump out at you?
It’s so funny.
A friend and I were just sitting at my table the other day, having a visit on her lunch break, and we admitted to one another that sometimes –
being introverts
who also love to gather
and host people in our homes –
{I know, I know, that sounds like an oxymoron, but it’s not, I assure you}
sometimes mid-gathering we will each sneak off
to the bathroom
or the closet
for a quick moment of quiet.
For a brief little breather,
and a prayer for recharge.
And you know what?
It felt so good to hear
that it isn’t just me who does this!
Because I can’t tell you how many times
I’ve been there, mid-breather,
{which truly only lasts about 5 minutes most times}
and asked myself, judgingly,
“Who does this?!”
Like “What is even wrong with you, Daylene?
You love gathering!
Why do you sometimes feel the need to hide for a moment?”
And not even just during gatherings.
But sometimes mid-day,
when I’ve been surrounded by my kids all day,
which I love,
But which also means
potentially hours
and days
and weeks on end,
without the introvert recharge of quietness
and aloneness with God,
if I don’t intentionally MAKE time for that.
So I’ve started slipping off, often.
Not for long.
Just 5, 10 minutes here and there.
Several times a day.
And that’s all it takes most times,
to stay charged!
Though I enjoy my longer morning-moments with God, too, when I take those! ☀️ ☕️ ✝️ 📖
But you know what?
I used to feel so guilty about that!
I used to feel guilty about needing to “escape.”
In fact, before my husband understood it,
he would actually ask me why I was doing that-
in those exact words.
Which made it feel even more wrong.
“Why are you trying to escape from me? From us?”
But y’all- he’s an extrovert-
and what he didn’t understand,
but he does now,
is that even though we both enjoy
being a part of groups
and gathering,
for me- that’s not where the energy comes from.
In fact, in order to HAVE the energy
to be able to keep connecting in the groups,
I NEED to take breathers to plug directly in to God,
a.l.o.n.e.
I love how amazing God is though.
Because as my friend left,
and I sat down for my “5 minutes”
between cleaning up
and picking up my niece from school,
I flipped open my Bible “randomly”
and my eyes came to rest on this phrase,
in Luke:
“As often as possible, Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer.”
WOW.
Random? I think not.
God never ceases to amaze me, friends!
Basically he was telling me to stop letting the enemy trip me up about this.
It’s tending to my own Spiritual needs-
and that’s ok.
It’s not the same as hygge.
It’s not sneaking into the closet for a drink.
It’s not the same as going outside for a smoke.
It’s way better even, than a 5 minute cup of coffee. ☕️
It’s Him + me,
and it can happen anywhere.
But out-of-the-way places offer the least distraction.
It’s not forever.
No,
he calls me right back out and helps me get back to serving and gathering.
But it’s just what I need.
He’s just what I need.
And sometimes in those 5 minutes, like today,
He will give me a word.
And sometimes no words are needed.
Sometimes all I need is just to sense His presence,
just rest in Him,
by taking just 5 minutes’ break
from all the noise.
Just 5 minutes of hearing and saying
nothing at all.
And the relationships where both speaking
AND mutual silence
are not uncomfortable, but comforting…
natural…
well…
aren’t those are the very best relationships of all?
❤️
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