Pause? Rest? Realistically ... How?

How often do you take time to pause
or rest through your day?
Sometimes the reaction to this question is
What!?!?  Are you CrAZy!?!
I don't have Time to pause or rest!

In reality, however, we are more effective
when we do intentionally pause
and allow our minds, hearts, and bodies
to momentarily rest.

Gazing into space is one way to pause.

Gazing at an icon 

is a way to spiritually pause and rest.

I like to gaze at an icon like this,

one that has a golden ground 

rather than a background.

The image can seem to float with

unfocused gaze.

One of my favorites is Trinity

by the late 14th century

Russian artist Andrei Rublev.

It is the large open space
around the bowl that allows
my eyes, mind, and soul to rest
in this painting.
The neutral center provides
a visual place of solace
while my peripheral vision
still encompasses the Trinity.

Notice how your heartbeat slows,
your breathing deepens,
and you are momentarily refreshed.
See?  It didn't take long at all!

Let me know how you intentionally
pause or rest.  I love to hear from you!

I'd Love to ... But ...

Learning to slow down is a life-long journey for me.

It's not so much learning how ...

if I've forgotten every tip I've ever learned

all I have to do is search the internet and there is

more info than I've ever wanted ...

and I still haven't even begun to slow down.

Usually it's a matter of

following one of my favorite ad slogans:

Just Do It.

Sit still.  Stand still.

Breathe.

Notice.  Breathe.

There.  Do you feel it?

For just a moment we slowed down.

Isn't it a bit different?

Enjoy .. then move on.

The Delight of Wonder

What would it mean to approach

every day with wonder, as Rabbi Abraham Heschel taught?

What would it mean to see life

as through the lens of a camera, as our son-in-law does?

What would it mean to pause,

to re-approach life with wonder,

so that we might experience

the delightful mystery of life all around us?

Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder.

Surprise me, amaze me, awe me, enrapture me

with Your marvelous things without number.

I do not ask

to see the reason for it all;

I ask only

to share the wonder of it all.

--Abraham Joshua Heschel