The temperature in our camper by 4 AM dropped to 33 degrees. BRRR. Our stay at Yellowstone exceeded our expectations in its beauty, diversity of scenery and awe at God’s creation. Yet when our tent camper’s small furnace refused to stay on more than ten minutes, the nights on this trip dragged on in never-ending numbness.So I spent my nippy nighttime wakefulness in prayer – arctic adoration and icy interchange with our God.The seventh and last pause I am learning more about is Matins or Vigils.Pause and Listen to the Lesson of the HourIn monastic traditions, the middle of the night prayers are often called vigils. Those who keep vigil are the watchers or sentinels of the night. In many communities, this practice has moved to early morning hours while it is still dark – almost a predawn prayer time.Themes for this hour are vigilance, deep listening, mystery, surrender and trust.Vigils – waiting, watching for the first signs of dawn, knowing God is present and anticipating His next move … [Read more...]
Bedtime Hour – “Seven times a day I praise you…” Psalm 119:164
Do you have a ritual before going to sleep? Sometimes I follow one similar to the sacred pauses of this hour. But other times I either fall asleep in the recliner watching some mindless television show or decide to check the email and Twitter one more time as my eyes get heavier and heavier.Pausing before God and reflecting on the past day nourishes gratitude and compassion within my heart. I know this is one pause I want to practice more consistently.The sixth pause of the day is Night.Pause and Listen to the Lesson of the Hour Themes for this hour are silence, rest, sleep, darkness, trust and repentance. I snuggle under my comforter and drift asleep in God’s arms. I offer up this past day like incense back to the Lord. Compline is the special word describing this nighttime practice. The word compline comes from the Latin root word meaning complete. How have we completed the day? The day is done and gone. It is a time to look within as a personal prayer to reconcile any discords with … [Read more...]
The Evening Hour — “Seven times a day I praise you…” Psalm 119:164
When I worked fulltime outside of the home, evening meant relaxing, then fatigue to me. I lost all of get up and go as the sun set.Now that I am working as a freelance writer, I often find renewed energy to write in the evening – a new discovery for me.Let’s explore together the lesson the evening hour holds when we pause to listen to its story.The fifth pause of the day is Evening.Pause and Listen to the Lesson of the HourI love how Macrina Wiederkehr describes this time of day. “One hand cradles daylight, the other welcomes night, In this Vespers hour, I sense a very thin veil between heaven and earth…As I symbolically take off my work clothes and put on the robe of prayer, my soul ages like good wine.”Themes for this hour are gratitude, praise, serenity and mystery.Many evenings overflow with additional duties and activities. Pausing allows our hearts time to take a breath, cross over the transom from day work to evening responsibilities and find a moment of peace.Stretch and … [Read more...]
Midafternoon – “Seven times a day I praise you…” Psalm 119:164
The Midafternoon pause scares me. I am afraid if I pause I will nap, then struggle to get anything else done. Midafternoon for me represents lethargy, sluggishness and panic over what I haven’t accomplished.So this pause will be difficult for me, yet one I really need to ponder and digest.The fourth pause of the day is Midafternoon.Pause and Listen to the Lesson of the HourThe theme of this hour according to Macrina Wiederkehr is steadfastness, surrender, forgiveness and wisdom. She notes that the “day is aging. Shadows lengthen as the light stretches toward evening…There is a yearning for completion. It is longing to put my house in order before the day ends.” This is the time of day the truth hits you:Have you lived today?Have you paused and been present to the Lord?This day will not last much longer, no matter how good, productive, or terrible the day was, how have our spent the gift of this day?Wiederkehr also notes that one of the themes of Midafternoon is impermanence. That may … [Read more...]
High Noon – – “Seven times a day I praise you…” Psalm 119:164
How do you spend your noon hour?Most of us break for quick bite of lunch and rush though some errands that urgently snap up our time. Some may walk at a fast pace, working on their fitness while others put their feet up listening to the news. My hubby's favorite noon time is watching Price is Right with Drew and the "Come on Down" challenge.But how many of us pause, be present to God and pray? "Come on Down" may be God's challenge to us to slow down and listen for Him over this midday stop.The third time to pause is Noon.Pause and Listen to the Lesson of the HourLight is the theme for the noon hour. The sun is at its peak with the day half gone. You know the old adage, is the cup half full or half empty? The same can be applied to the noon pause.This pause gives us time to review the morning and recharge for the rest of the day.Stretch and GrowWiederkehr offers us questions to ponder at noon time: “Do we find ourselves focusing on the fact that the day is half gone or feeling delighted … [Read more...]
Mid Morning Pause- “Seven times a day I praise you…” Psalm 119:164
Seven Sacred Pauses by Macrina Wiederkehr entered my heart and soul with its message. See the July 21 post. The next several entries will feature thoughts about the daily rhythm of pausing for prayer throughout the day and even in the night.People have prayed at fixed hours for centuries. These moments can be called sacred pauses, the daily office, or the divine hours. The number of times each day varies from three to four to seven. Honoring God by honoring the hours connect us to the divine and increases our awareness to the movement of the spirit in our lives.I invite your comments as we honor the movement of the rhythm of each day as we Pause and learn the lesson of that hour (background and specific themes for the featured hour) and stretch and grow (questions to ponder and practices to try)I start off well with morning prayer, full of good intentions to bring my heart to God throughout the day. But in reality I get distracted by life, interrupted by other voices, and pulled in … [Read more...]
Pausing for Morning Prayer– “Seven times a day I praise you…” Psalm 119:164
Seven Sacred Pauses by Macrina Wiederkehr entered my heart and soul with its message. See the July 21 post. The next several entries will feature thoughts about the daily rhythm of pausing for prayer throughout the day and even in the night. People have prayed at fixed hours for centuries. These moments can be called sacred pauses, the daily office, or the divine hours. The number of times each day varies from three to four to seven. Honoring God by honoring the hours connect us to the divine and increases our awareness to the movement of the spirit in our lives. I invite your comments as we honor the movement of the rhythm of each day as we pause and learn the lesson of that hour (background and specific themes for the featured hour) and stretch and grow (questions to ponder and practices to try)Morning people drive people nuts. How do I know? I confess that I am one. We find it easy and natural to begin each day in prayer. We awaken with God, a form of resurrection. Morning brings a … [Read more...]
Be Thou My Vision – Singing my Daily Prayer
“Those who sing, pray twice” I have been using my favorite hymn as part of morning devotions this week: Be Thou My Vision. This haunting Celtic tune lingers with me all day. Even though the words are old English with the Thou’s and Thy’s, every time I pray its message, I feel the presence of God. Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art. Thou my best Thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light. Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word; I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord; Thou my great Father, I Thy true son; Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one. Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight; Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight; Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower: Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power. Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou mine Inheritance, now and always: Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou … [Read more...]