A Psalm of Divine Unfolding
In the quiet spaces of our hearts, we find the words of Psalm 92 calling us to the sacred rhythm of contemplation and an ongoing pattern of thankfulness. This psalm, an invitation into Sabbath and gratitude, invites us to a place beyond mere observance, into a state of self-reflection, where we become attuned to the divine pulse of life
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night... for you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.”
In the teachings of Richard Rohr, we encounter the idea of the "first" and "second" halves of life – a journey from doing to being, from success to significance. There is a unique wisdom when trying to live into both of these stages of life simultaneously; working in such a way that is effective, productive, creative, and rewarding while also not allowing those outcomes to define our identify, inflate our ego, or limit our ability to spend our time, energy and resources on the things that matter most to us.
Sabbath, or rest, in the context of a busy season of life can feel impossible. Whether by choice or by inevitability, some of us are patterning our life in a way that doesn’t allow for much down time, let alone contemplation, meditation, or extended periods of prayer. Scrutinizing the motivations, expectations, and implications of how our professional and personal calendars are constructed is essential on an ongoing basis, but there will be times in life where we feel pulled in too many directions.
During these seasons of life, we would benefit from also scrutinizing the quality and effectiveness of our rest. By resting I don’t mean being distracted. Rest occurs when we are maximizing the potential for encounter in moments of our day; when our expectations for fulfillment are united with feeling like our time has been well spent. Being in a state of rest is honoring the sacrality of time and acknowledging how limited our time is on this earth. When you have experienced rest, you should be able to answer “yes” to these questions: Did I make my life better with how I spent my time, and was it reflective of myself at my best?
When we are tired from an exhausting schedule, it is tempting to grab the low hanging fruit of distraction instead of demanding more from idle moments. The wisdom in Psalm 92 calls us to be rooted in an extended state of gratitude and reflection; allowing both our productive and passive moments to align with our highest intentions of spending our time in such a way that energizes our soul and connects to what matters most. It calls us to evaluate our time not by what you can get accomplished, but how your accomplishing, striving, and doing resonates with the potential of moments to align ourselves with joy, fulfillment, and restful contentment.
