In one passage of Wayne Muller’s wise and beautiful book, How Then Shall We Live? he describes how hard we tend to push ourselves on the spiritual path. “But if we listen to the great saints and teachers of the world,” he says, “we are struck by one common theme: They all speak of how gentle it can be. Jesus says, ‘Come to me, all you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.'”
Most of us are pretty good at pushing ourselves; less adept at easing off. Yet it is in the spaces between activity — in times of silence, pause, gratitude, simple observation — that we most readily experience the presence of God. Muller writes: “Many times this is all we need — permission to stop pushing, to stop working so hard. There is wholeness here already. Let us wait for it to show itself.”
I pray that we all find ways to pause, breathe, and be gentle with ourselves. You may be surprised at how quickly, and effortlessly, God shows up.