We live in a noisy world.
Consider the never-ending barrage of voices assailing us everyday in our homes, at work, and especially from the media. Our head is overfed with social invasion.
Sometimes it’s enough to make me want to run to a quiet place.
A sanctuary from life.
The other day I needed a break from cell phones, computers, agendas and voices. I needed to listen to One. At times like this, my customary (but unusual) routine for decades has been to flee to the cornfields and pastures in Lancaster County.
Shhhh . . . the quiet place powered by mules.
Where can we go to be still and know that He is God? Where can we go to BE?
While our children were growing up, we lived in a home hugged by cornfields. They knew where to find me for the pauses, when my faith was a seed and life overturned.
It’s amazing what you hear in the place where a seed is dropped into overturned earth to grow into tall stalks that block the view of the world. It is a sacred place of solitude where I desperately seek the sound of God.
God wants us to live by faith and not audible words heard while abiding in the sheaves.
The stillness of sound when times spent chatting to the sky has made me wonder if only the ears of corn were listening.
When He calls me to the closet in the field, I go, even in winter when fields are as leveled as I am. There is still the quiet waiting for life in idle fields prepared by cultivation.
Jesus took foot to mountains and gardens when He experienced the same problem … the multitudes. When was the last time you withdrew to an out of the way place to pray?
Do you have a secret chamber where you can go to hear the Voice above voices?
He is as near as our knee. Where is your Gethsemane?
My soul waits in silence for God only. For my hope is from Him. Psalm 62:5
Verna
I miss the fields of my childhood where I could speak out loud and no one could see me and thus think me insane. I wonder if there is a buzz in my neighborhood that says, “You know that lady on Koffel? She talks to herself when she walks by my house.” I long for the fields where I could scream, cry, and mubble to the only ONE who truly understands. I need to make friends with a farmer within driving distance.
. . . and Carolyn . . . we know that “sometimes a girl just has to pray in the cornfield” . . . 🙂
My Gethsemane is in the corner of my office couch. It’s my daily spot where I pause over the Word.
However, there have been day’s when I was in the day-to-day workforce that all I could do was open the Word and set in silence for Him to pour the Word over me. Tears blinded me so I could not read.
Yet in the silent pause in my tiny get-away corner, peace comforted me because I felt His uplifting presence. He never stands me up on our daily date. I wish I could say the same. It’s the showing up that results in His comfort no matter the place.
Thank you for sharing today’s meaningful message, Verna.
Write on!
Carolyn
I love this, Carolyn . . . He never stands you up . . . our good and faithful Father who always shows up. Thank you for this precious response.
There is a place I like to go. It’s called Pretty Place, a beautiful part of Greenville YMCA. Thanks Verna for reminding me of this.
Love the name . . .if I come back to Greenville, take me to Pretty Place!
So glad you got away to the cornfields in Lancaster. Love your memories and musings about that sacred place for you. Thanks for sharing, Verna. Again, it stirs up sweet memories of yesterdays.
Yes, my other prayer closet is the car, as you well know . . . it seems I’m always driving (or praying).
This morning when my morning run became a morning slide, black ice everywhere so I walked and chatted with my best bud JESUS.
I pray and talk to Him when I run too but sometimes it’s all I can do to breath. Ha! In such great shape…it is coming along. Running used to be my escape when I was young then walking when I had kids and was pg etc. Then for years I would just sit and talk to him but I NEED to get out and run. A recent Harvard study showed that the best anti depressant hands down was exercise. I’m not depressed currently but have been feeling the nudge to get off the chair and out there where there aren’t distractions! Thanks for sharing…feel like I just had a cup of tea with you after I read your blogs.
Oh, I love your visuals, Liz . . . I feel like I was with you when you “ran the course’ this morning . . Yep, we all need an escape to the throne room no matter what it look likes to others. That is the warmest thing to say . . . “you feel like we had tea” over this blog – you sweet girl!
My quiet place is a rocking chair with black and white check cushions. My lap desk, Bible and devotionals are always there waiting for me. Tissues are near. The woodstove’s crackle. A waft of steam from my tea mug.
He meets me….
Jeanne
http://www.jeannedoyon.blogspot.com
This sounds so cozy and intimate — love the description of your quiet place, Jeanne . . .
When I was a child, we had a secret place we called Devil’s Island. Surrounded on all side by a creek, and a huge tree in the middle, it was the perfect place for a tomboy like me to get away and just think, with nothing more than the calls of the birds and the brook to interrupt my thoughts.
Today’s world is so different. And yet, the corner of my sofa is the first place I go every morning to hear from the Lord. With my chronological Bible, my journal, my computer, and my first cup of coffee, I read His Word and then join Shannon Mullins for my daily Bible study. It’s a precious time.
Your post also reminded me of Joanna Weaver’s statement about her Jesus Chair in her book, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. It doesn’t matter where the spot is, as long as we can envision Jesus sitting there everyday, waiting, calling for us to spend time with Him.
Great post. Thank you for the reminder, Verna!
I love the description of the then and the now where you go to meet the Father —- it is a precious time. Nothing can compare to that alone time . . . thank you, Vonda!
Okay, I’m thinking I need a new place! Mine is in my closet sitting with my back against the island looking out the window. It’s where I can hide and no one can find me! But after reading about everyone else’s place…maybe I’ll venture up to the roof =o) Great post Verna. We do need to just be quite and still to hear His voice.
I love reading all of these great responses of everyone’s meeting place with the Father! Thank you, Celeste . . .
Verna,
I love your imagery in this. I could see and feel the peace that the fields give you? One of my favorite verses is “Be still and know that I am God.”. Even before I understood the spiritual need to do this, I fled to a sanctuary for solace. My favorite is the woods, especially if there’s a creek nearby, but I’ve found if in the car or sitting in my home. The main thing is finding that stillness in order to listen to the word of God. Thanks for a beautiful reminder to find that place.
I love how He meets us in the secret chamber He provides . . . thank you so much, Barbara.
My secret place is the guest room/teacher supply room/study. I have a desk in the corner, and that is “my space”–the walls plastered with posters and inspirational Scripture verses, and two comfy black chairs. One to sit in,and one to rest the my feet. I used to make it a priority to head straight back there after changing out of my teacher clothes into comfy clothes. Teaching is so draining to an introvert that I need the quiet.
However, like some of the other commentators, I’ve found a quiet place anywhere–in a waiting room, in my car, even in my classroom when my students’ heads are bent over a test.
Beautiful post–and lovely pictures!
Thanks, Janeen, for sharing your place of refuge . . . we all need a Selah place where we can just pause, glad you have a prayer corner!
My secret place is the guest room/teacher supply room/study. I have a desk in the corner, and that is “my space”–the walls plastered with posters and inspirational Scripture verses, and two comfy black chairs. One to sit in,and one to rest the my feet. I used to make it a priority to head straight back there after changing out of my teacher clothes into comfy clothes. Teaching is so draining to an introvert that I need the quiet.
However, like some of the other commentators, I’ve found a quiet place anywhere–in a waiting room, in my car, even in my classroom when my students’ heads are bent over a test.
Beautiful post–and lovely pictures!
Thanks, Janeen, for sharing your place of refuge . . . we all need a Selah place where we can just pause, glad you have a prayer corner!
Great reminder to “be still and know that I am God.” Nothing else satisfies quite like that quiet time. Thanks for sharing, Verna.
Great reminder to “be still and know that I am God.” Nothing else satisfies quite like that quiet time. Thanks for sharing, Verna.