listening to the quiet

I am house/dog-sitting this week for a family at my church.

I walk into the house, the "Terriorists" Terriers sniffing me suspiciously, one baring his teeth (the owner says this is his smile), the other looking at me with a cocked face, that seems to be asking "Who are you? Are you going to take us for a walk?" 

I bend down, and pet their gray little bodies, and comfort them. "Hey puppies, remember me? I am here to take care of you!"

[It's totally normal to talk to animals, by the way.]

I set my purse down, and look around... and take a deep breath. The house welcomes me with her beautiful quietness and even with the still continuing canine inspections happening at my feet... I feel the peace.

I was supposed to be at lifegroup in forty minutes. I had just enough time to drop my stuff off, let the puppies pee (outside) and take off. But the quietness has stopped me.

When's the last time you've been alone? Without an agenda. Without homework or someone to talk to about something. When's the last time you wrote... not for school, but to process all the new things in your life?

[It's also not weird to talk to yourself.]

I think It's been a long time.

I am not going to lifegroup tonight, am I, God?

Nope.

I am reminded of two separate conversations that occurred earlier that day. One where  the executive pastor shared at a Directors Meeting the need for people with "Melancholy" personalities to take time to rest. He said Melancholies love being with people - a lot- but they need to be careful  to take a break from people and have alone time too. Time to rest. To contemplate life. To daydream. To breathe.

And then later, I was chatting with the Small Groups Pastor about an upcoming marriage conference. We were watching the "Laugh Your Way to Better Marriage" promotional video... and the speaker talked about men having little boxes in their heads and women having lots of wires all messy and connected. And how men have a favorite box in their head called the Nothing Box, where they really, really like to "go to" often... and think/do nothing at all... much to the women's annoyance.

I didn't hear in the video what the female comparison was to the "Nothing Box"... but I think it's time for us to think, pray, listen to God... listen to the quiet whispers we can't hear when we are stuck in a whirlwind of busyness. It's time to rest and connect with God.

So, that's what I will do tonight, listen to the rain outside and think about all that is going on in my life... thanking God for it all...   that is until 8pm when One Tree Hill comes on.

[Just kidding.]