I love spending time with my grandchildren! We do projects, play games, spend time in the kitchen, and share bible stories when we have sleepovers. These are memories I hope they will never forget. Like most children, when I am trying to get their attention it can be a bit of a challenge. When we are all together as a family there’s alot going on at one time. Conversation between the adults and energetic play time can all be happening simultaneously. Oh and by the way, add to the mix two dogs running around vighing for everyone’s attention. In the midst of the Wilburn mayhem, there are moments when I will intentionally speak to one of our grandchildren and teach them to stop, look and listen to what I am saying. I want eye contact, full attention and a respectful response (age appropriate of course). We did this with our own children and I thank God that our adult children support this kind of training with our grands. I spent most of my motherhood wanting to prepare our children for adult life in their walk with God. Point being, if they didn’t learn to stop, look and listen to their parents, how would they ever be able to do that in adult life in their attitude toward God and His word. I believe there is a lesson here!
Jesus is our finest example to this point. Mark 1:35-37 tells us, “In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went away to a secluded place and was praying there. Simon and his companions searched for Him; they said, “Everyone is looking for You.”
This verse is sandwiched in between demands, expectations, healings, traveling and preaching the gospel. Everyone was pressing in to get Jesus’ attention and the needs came with urgency and succession.
I don’t believe that Jesus example of seclusion and time alone had anything to do with some mystic need to find His inner peace and tranquility. He was the God of peace! Rather, He set the example (the busiest human being that ever lived) to stop, look and listen to the One who holds galaxies in the palm of His hands. Jesus communion with the Father was a passionate pursuit at the cost of physical needs and public appointments. There is where the breathe of God would feed Him, enable Him, and point the way in another day in fulfilling His Father’s will.
John Piper said, We don’t retreat from life’s busyness and bustle as an end in itself. “To sit quietly in a room alone,” in Pascal’s words, is not an achievement but an instrument — an opportunity to open up our lives and souls to him for whom we were made. To know him and enjoy him.
May we like Him, learn the discipline and the joy to stop, look and listen to the One who waits to speak truth and life in our daily path.
