when trying too hard

“Cease striving and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

I have been up early and trying too hard to pray “right.” Thankfully, God seems to be aware and has interrupted my striving with a memory from years ago when…

I sat in the darkness of morning before dawn with a hot cup of coffee in hand as the cold concrete awakened my feet. I settled into quietness of soul through the rhythmic rocking on my front porch chair on a brisk Autumn day. The air breathed with embers of burning leaves from the day before. Birds had not yet found their morning song. Only a few cars rolled past in the distance. There was no humming of Summer’s air conditioners or spraying of watering systems. It was pure silence; the kind that compels all within to stop and listen.

Beauty beckoned me to notice without striving in thought or prayer or any such noble deed. I leaned back and yielded to the morning’s invitation to receive the moment. Moonlight yawned and stretched across the lawn. Stars shone. And somehow. Someway. God had managed to keep the earth and the entire universe on course and in working order. He pulled all that off - without my help! Can you even imagine?!? Oh my goodness.

I rest again in this memory on a similar day when my mind is striving overtime to do whatever it is that I am supposed to do.

I settle my heart and soul with a Heavenly reminder to, Simply Be.

Somehow. Someway. God is still God, and I am not.

I am good with that.