Well, it's 2:36 a.m., and I'm wide awake. It could be the fact that I went to bed at 9:00 p.m., probably for the first time since elementary school. Or maybe it was that random moment when the power came back on, and all the lights that we forgot we left on suddenly beamed brightly confusing the heck out of me as I lay in bed trying to figure out what just happened. Regardless of how hard I tried to convince myself of my sleepiness for the next hour, I finally gave up and decided to blog (of course.) Yes, our power did go off tonight during those crazy storms. At about 7:20 I was busy with the usual multi-tasking: feeding Lily her dinner, talking to my mom on the phone, listening to the weather report on TV, when all of this activity ceased abruptly when the power just shut off. You know that moment when everything just stops. And there we were, sitting in silence and darkness and powerless to do anything about it.
And you know what, it was actually somewhat refreshing. After putting Lily to bed Josh and I just sat on the couch facing each other and listened to the silence by candlelight. There was nothing. No constant chatter from the TV, no music from the computer, no spinning from the washer, not even a hum from the refridgerator. And I began thinking how much noise I'm used to in my day to day life. I'm so accustomed to a steady stream of chaos that I'm really not aware of its effect on me. But once that was all taken away it felt so good to be surrounded in silence.
In their book Overcoming Overload, Steve and Mary Farrar talk about the importance of a sanctuary for us as believers. A time of solitude, stillness, and silence where we can reconnect with our Creator. To turn off the "noise" and be refreshed in knowing Him. Such a beautiful idea but sometimes a hard reality (especially with a 13 month old!) But it's so crucial to the well-being of my soul. And sadly, sometimes it doesn't happen unless it's forced upon me like tonight when our power shut off. It's almost as if God was saying, "Let me help you to slow down and rest." And that's just what we did. And it makes me wonder why we don't do that more often.
9 comments:
Nat...I love you!
Nat...I did it...I made a blog. You can add me to your friends list! I don't know how to make a friends list yet, or you would be on there. But, you can show me :)
natalie, brad and i thought the same thing last night! our power went off for a couple of ours, and we sat in the dark, reading books to olivia with a flashlight, and then after she went to bed, just watching the flame of our candles and noticing how really quiet it was...we were so refreshed by the silence. once our power came on, we kind of wanted to turn it all off...just to enjoy more of the simplicity that came from the silence.
Beautiful! Makes me wish our electricity had gone out!
i went to bed at 9 pm the other night, and it was amazing. i would do it every night if i could!
Hey Nat!
I love how you are sharing the deep things going on in your life. What a blessed night to have. Thanks for sharing.
Nat....that's a good thought....I really appreciate those moments when he lets us to do nothing more than sit in his presence....we need the lights to go out more often! Enjoying your blog!
Last week when you told us you had changed up your blog I meant to check it out then, but now I am up at 3 a.m. and appreciate the insight. I only wish I was sitting still and not working!
Good stuff...He's doing His thing in you! love you!
hey natalie,
just wanted to say hello and tell you how much i've enjoyed getting to know your family a little better through playing with the worship crew at the village. i've already learned so much from josh...
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