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...]

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 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...]

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...]

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...]