Growing up in the Midwest, I became quite accustomed to severe weather events. Thunderstorms, tornadoes, blizzards, and ice storms were a regular part of life. Yet, in my 40 years, I can't recall ever being without power for more than 24 hours. Now, I am facing up to four days without power. Even during missionary work in a remote village in the Dominican Republic, we had electricity, albeit with occasional short outages. The culture and environment there somehow made it easier to relax, enjoy the silence, and appreciate the disconnection.
This time, however, was different. My power went out around 5 pm on Tuesday, November 19th, and as I write this, it still hasn't been restored. I also lost cellular service, making it impossible to easily reach out to friends or family without driving around to find a signal. Despite having a supportive and flexible team and manager at work, I felt incredibly stressed by this change in my environment and the urgency to get back online. I had decided to approach the day with a positive mindset, viewing the outage as a gift. But embarrassingly, I found it incredibly difficult. I hadn't realized just how dependent I was on technology. My inability to relax more was disappointing, but it brought me to a place of reflection—and maybe that was the point.
I think about how life was pre-iPhone, pre-internet, pre-social media. Even in times without modern technology, before Christ and during Christ’s human presence, people needed reminders to find solace in silence and meet God in the present. Verses like these shed light on the importance of stillness and reflection and are great to keep handy as arrow prayers:
Psalm 46:10: "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." This command encourages us to embrace stillness and connect with God on a deeper level.
Mark 6:31: "Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'" Christ invites us to prioritize rest, reflection, and balance in our lives.
Matthew 11:28-29: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Jesus invites us to surrender our burdens and trust in His gentle and humble guidance.
Isaiah 30:15: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength." God invites us to embrace peace, strength, and salvation through repentance, rest, quietness, and trust.
1 Kings 19:12: "After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper." This verse reminds us that God's voice is often found in the serene, gentle whispers of our lives.
The answer lies in our culture of constant connectivity, which keeps us tethered to work, social media, and news. This fear of missing out (FOMO), along with the habits we've developed, can make disconnecting a significant challenge. Many of us use our devices to cope with stress and anxiety, creating a cycle that's hard to break. It’s important to invite Christ in to help us with healthier ways to cope with this broken world and all the trauma and difficulties it presents. When we invite Christ in to help us, we are intentionally making time for silence and reflection with Him. We need to heed God’s invitation to be present, slow down, and find solace in His presence, and we can overcome anything.
I don’t know about you, but I deeply desire to have a closer relationship with Christ. I love Him with all my heart and know that He loves each of us deeply. It’s important for us to remember… at the end of our time on this earth, what will matter more—the relationships we've built with each other and with Christ or how many likes your post received on Instagram or Tiktok?
Let us embrace stillness and prioritize rest, reflection, and balance in our lives. Let us surrender our burdens and trust in His gentle and humble guidance. Through repentance, rest, and quietness, let us find His peace, strength, and salvation, trusting in the journey. Let us take time for silence so that we may hear the gentle whispers of His voice.
As Thanksgiving approaches, I am deeply grateful for the opportunities the Church offers us to embrace stillness and reflection. I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to take part in these events, as they have the potential to profoundly impact your life, fostering the connection and authenticity we were created for.
Originally published in the Holy Apostles E-Bulletin
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