I hate the phrase "quiet time" as a description of a devotional/alone time with God. You never hear rigorous theologians use the phrase. You know why, too, right? It's girlie. It sounds like something you do in the middle of the day on a mat in a room with kindergartners. It could also be called "shut up and listen time," which is what it is, and guys would like that better, but I can't see it catching on.
The kindergarten picture kinda fits, too. You got a bunch of hyperactive rug rats, all juiced on juicy-juice and pop tarts, and their little attention spans are flying every which way and latching onto everything in sight, and there comes a point where you have to shut them down, reboot, reset and let their dinky engines cool. Yeah, that's me. "Be still, and know that I am God." Yup, quiet time is what it is.
It's not study and it's not work and it's not preparation and it's not ministry. You know how married people sometimes say, "we're just missing" to describe how they feel they're not connecting with each other right now, even though nothing's wrong and they're doing everything they're supposed to? How they're "just not communicating?" And how the answer is to make time to look each other in the eye and listen and not be in a hurry about it? And when you do it regularly you feel so much more connected? Same with God.
Ahhh. Quiet. And time. What a perfect way to describe this. I don't like the phrase 'quiet time' either, and I'm a girl. Great post.
Posted by: emily | Monday, April 20, 2009 at 11:22 AM