rest, part eight

8. when there is no rest

We have just returned from a 15 day family vacation road trip. My entries about rest ended the day we started packing :-). For the last two weeks, we have enjoyed long van rides, sardine-like sleeping conditions in hotels in between my snoring hubby and mom, the constant monitoring of baby Louie in not-so-kid friendly environments, the noise of big cities, the crowds of theme parks...you get the picture.

Rest? Not so much. Even my normal "sanctuary" of the bathroom was rarely uninterrupted! But in these crowded spaces of life, I attempt to rest internally by "doing every little thing for the love of God" as Brother Lawrence would say. Most of the time I'm simply strategizing how I'm going to clean Louie's last pacifier, but every now and then I remember that God is still profoundly WITH me and I exert energy to think with Him.

Sometimes I Scripture pray in those spaces. Sometimes I simply sigh and say thank-you. But I attempt to quiet my distracted mind and remember His nearness, His love, His attention. Those moments are like thick raindrops on my soul--refreshing and, yes, even restful.