Called Aside

So there I was…walking to class, head down in a book, bumping into everyone and everything. Voices echoed in my wake…“Watch it!”, “Dude!?” and other things I will not repeat! I was running a bit late so I was reading my daily devotional on my way to an “exciting” Urban Design lecture. I don’t know why it was, but God really met with me on that fifteen minute walk and I’d like to take this moment to share that devotional with you. John Ruskin shares an interesting viewpoint and urges us to be patient and wait on God. 

He withdrew to a solitary place (Matthew 14:13)

There is no music during a musical rest, but the rest is part of the making of the music. In the melody of our life, the music is separated here and there by rests. During those rests, we foolishly believe we have come to the end of the song. God sends us times of forced leisure by allowing sickness, disappointed plans, and frustrated efforts. He brings a sudden pause in the choral hymn of our lives, and we lament that our voices must be silent. We grieve that our part is missing in the music that continually rises to the ear of our Creator. Yet how does a musician read the rest? He counts the break with unwavering precision and plays his next note with confidence, as if no pause were ever there.

God does not write the music of our lives without a plan. Our part is to learn the tune and not be discouraged during the rests. They are not to be slurred over or omitted, nor used to destroy the melody or to change the key. If we will only look up, God Himself will count the time for us. With our eyes on Him, our next note will be full and clear. If we sorrowfully say to ourselves, “There is no music in a rest,” let us not forget that the rest is part of the making of music. The process is often slow and painful in this life, yet how patiently God works to teach us! And how long He waits for us to learn the lesson!

John Ruskin

Called aside –

From the glad working of your busy life ,

From the world’s ceaseless stir of care and strife,

Into the shade and stillness by your Heavenly Guide

For a brief time you have been called aside.

Never lose heart brothers and sisters. God is always with us…He is always in control!

Peace and Love

A