Wasting time…an interesting topic to introduce, especially at this time of year when every minute, every second is so prescious and needed to prepare for the Season. How could one possible think about wasting time when there is so much to do? What an irresponsible suggestion!
But, is there ever a good time to waste time? Don’t we all tell our children not to waste time? Don’t we all feel a twinge of guilt at the end of a day when we have wasted time? Sometimes we even chide ourselves or others for wasting time on a person (ugh!).
And yet, of all the definitions of prayer that I am aware of, my favorite is: Prayer is wasting time with God. Wasting time…..hangin’ out….talking when I have something to say…..listening when God is speaking. No demands, no expectations (referring to expectations that I am defining), no set words or format, no rules, no watching the clock. Just hangin’ out with my Best Friend and Lover.
I’m reminded of those games at carnivals when you have to try to shoot the duck that is moving across in front of you. Hard to hit a moving target, it would be so much easier if it wasn’t moving. Imagine God trying to ‘shoot’ us with his love and we are just moving all the time. Perhaps he is thinking, if they would just sit still for a moment or two and let me just love them. If they would just consent to spending a little time with me, I could give them so much. If they would just waste a little time with me……and oh, by the way, isn’t it silly that they actually think that they ‘own’ this time that they think they use so wisely?
Today is the Sabbath, today is the Second Sunday of Advent, a season of waiting. Today I will try to listen a little more, to speak a little less, to be more aware, to worship, to rest……and to waste a little time.
Reflections on the Journey 
hmmm…
I waste time a lot, but alas, nowhere near enough time wasting with God.
Thankyou :O)
Seeing your pictures and reading your posts I’d say that you are doing something right
Quiet, down time is so important. In the busy-ness of our days, it’s sometimes impossible to really connect, with others, with our own feelings. I vote for wasting time a little more often, to know just what’s in our hearts.
I agree Joanne. It’s so important to go deep…and waste some time
Things are not as they seem. http://www.allisonwelch.com/myfirstyear/2010/09/perspective.html I read a quote somewhere, and now I can’t find the source to credit it, but it was about standing on my head and kicking at the heavens. As I begin to try to “right” myself I start to see that what the world says is “wasting time” is in fact participating in the eternal “now.” my favorite meditation – http://www.allisonwelch.com/myfirstyear/2010/09/be-attitudes.html
Beautiful, thanks for sharing that Allison
I love that ‘moving target’ analogy. I will use it myself sometime. Great message.
Thanks Richard…didn’t come from me!
I agree with Richard, Andie, that ‘moving target’ analogy is great. It really helps me think about what I’m doing.
God Bless you!
I’ve never heard the definition that prayer is wasting time with God. What better way to waste time than with Him.
Hop you had a good weekend Andie.
Thanks Bernadine….so good to hear from you. Tis the Season to waste some time with God.
In this world of endless overload it is hard to disconnect. Even my prayerful time can be difficult to isolate myself so that my prayers are heard in my own head.
I am thankful always that God hears them even when I don’t.
I am also thankful to have a private room in my home – My Sanctuary – in which to try to calm the storm in my head so I can get closer to God.
You are blessed to have that Sacred Space. It is so difficult, that is why it’s so important that we keep sending these messages to each other.
I am catch up here- goodness you have written loads since I last visited. You must have had a real surge of inspiration – I love the hanging out with god concept !
But I do find prayer a real mountain. I find Fr. Austin Fleming’s prayers at a Concord Pastor comments blog are awesome and I use them a lot.
Blessings. Keep up the brilliant work here !
Will try and comment on your other posts too – please forgive me.
Thank you so much Phil…I’m so glad you stopped by. I love your blog! Yes, I agree, it is a mountain…a tough climb and somewhere where I don’t want to come down from….how unrealistic is that?