A quiet place…
Happy Tuesday, sweet friends! Goodness, don’t you just love Spring?
Well, my daughter and husband may tend to disagree with certain parts of Spring….like the massive amount of pollen.
They are both highly sensitive to pollen and it is miserable for them.
Thank goodness for allergy meds!
This past Saturday, my husband and I were given tickets to go to Augusta National golf course.
If you are not a sports fan, particularly a golf fan, this course is where one of the most famous tournaments for golfers is played…The Masters.
Well, being married to a golf loving man, I know alllllll aboout golf. I have no choice. Ha!
Here is the thing though…getting tickets to go to this course is very difficult. It is not an easy thing to do.
So, when a kind man offered them to us, completely out of the blue, we excitedly said…YES!!!
My husband has been multiple times, but I had never had the opportunity.
After spending hours pondering what to wear, I ended up borrowing a dress from a sweet friend.
My husband still thinks I am crazy to put that much thought into what to wear to a golf course.
Duh! Clearly, he is clueless.
As we arrive super early that morning for our day at this prestigious golf course, my stomach has butterflies.
I was so excited to finally see this pristine place!
Augusta National is famous for their blooming azaleas, and it did not disappoint.
This course does not allow cell phones…ever.
Or cameras…at least on tournament days.
So, it was kind of awesome not having to worry about taking pictures or getting texts.
As we walked around this breath taking course, all I could think about was how peaceful it was.
It was quiet, although it was filled with people.
Young people, older people….all kinds of ages.
No one, not ONE person had their face in a phone.
I was mesmerized by the serenity of it all.
Being there, took me back to another time before cell phones. When the world was a bit quieter. When we were not always looking for the best spot to snap a picture.
Instead of worrying about pictures, I fully was made present.
Present in the moment.
Present in the beauty.
Present in the interactions with fellow on lookers.
As beautiful as Augusta National was….the most beautiful and memorable part was the quiet-ness.
I just cannot shake the feeling of not being distracted and pulled away by my phone.
If it were not for my trusty little watch, I would have had no idea what time it was.
The day just lingered on in the sweetest way.
I miss this kind of life.
I know times change, and things change.
However, there is something missing today.
Something that our children may never have….
Serenity.
Peace.
Being Present.
Undistracted.
Just recently, my son asked me what my favorite season of life has been so far.
Immediately, I knew the answer.
The late nineties and early 2000’s.
The year he was born, 2001, life was simpler.
I had no internet on my phone.
Phones were for communication, not entertainment.
I miss this desperately.
Being “connected” all the time steals something from us.
It steals our attention and our awareness of what is right in front of us.
It steals our eyes away to a far away place instead of the beauty around us.
The next day, after our trip to Augusta, I sat in my back yard.
Taking nothing but my Bible, I sat in that back yard for about an hour.
Soaking up the sun, the birds chirping, the squirrels frolicking…
No phone in sight.
It was the most peaceful time.
As I was sitting outside, I kept hearing the verse in my heart…
“make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.'“ 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
A quiet life.
Wow.
In our culture today, it is almost impossible.
Everyone wants visibility.
Everyone wants notoriety.
Everyone wants to go viral.
Everyone wants attention and applause.
Gosh, where have we gone wrong??
A quiet life does not mean being invisible, it means being present.
A quiet life prioritizes presence over performance.
A quiet life brings the fruit of peace, not strife.
A quiet life draws others to Jesus instead of ourselves.
Is it possible to live a quiet life in the times we live in today?
I believe it is!
Here are some things to help us…
Unplug in 15 minute increments throughout our day.
Sit outside.
Go on a walk without your phone.
Choose one social media app to let go of if you are on several platforms.
Turn social media notifications off of your phone.
Call a friend or family member on the phone just to talk.
Send a hand written note to someone through the mail.
These are just a few things…ask God to show you, He will.
I am so encouraged by my trip to Augusta National.
Most people go for the golf, I think I would go back just for the serenity.
Has your life gotten too loud?
I get it.
Mine has to.
Let’s turn down the volume.
God has much to say to us…let’s listen.
“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone.” (Psalm 62:5)
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” ( Psalm 23:1-3)
turning down the volume,
jill
