QUIET MOMENTS

“For He Himself is our peace…” Ephesians 2:14

There is something magnetic about being backstage at the theater. It feels like a second home to me. I love how it is always chilly so that I can bundle up in my favorite warm-ups. I love seeing the crew working on the lights and the scenery and preparing the props. I love finding a quiet spot in a corner to stretch, warm-up, and clear my mind. I love that I can go to this place and just focus on one thing….the performance. There is great anticipation as we wait in the wings to go onto the stage. I have noticed over the years, that every dancer has unique rituals that they do just before they go onstage. Each dancer takes a quiet moment. My quiet moment is  to stretch. Stretching seems to calm my nerves. So if you see me stretching and stretching backstage, over and over, it is my way of letting those nerves go. Right before I enter the lights of the stage, I like to close my eyes, pray, and just let Jesus’ peace wash over me. There have been a few performances that my little boys have stood backstage to watch. Their company always keeps the nerves away as well.

What does your quiet moment before you run on stage look like? Jesus’ company can calm your nerves, your worries, your fears, your restlessness, whatever it is. How would it change your day if you had more of those quiet moments in the dailiness of life? What if we stopped, prayed, and let Jesus’ peace wash over us before we tackle our next task or run those errands? It is easy to try to just push through the day, barely stopping for a breath.  But we wind up feeling empty, exhausted by trying to do our day in our own strength.  Try taking quiet moments through the day to just enjoy His company. To just feel loved by Him. To just know that He cares. To just know that He is in control.

Prayer:  “Dear Jesus, thank you for your Holy Spirit in me that calms me, comforts me, washes over me, and enables me to do what I cannot do in my own strength.  Help me remember to take quiet moments during the day to just enjoy Your presence, feel Your love, and depend on Your strength.”