“Hush away the hurry.
Put to rest the worry.
Come to quell and quiet me.
In this moment given…
Awake my soul to live this moment. Awake my soul,
 give thanks and hold it”
~ Shaun Groves, “Awaken My Soul”

First snow. Last leaves. There are moments God places in our hands that are brief. Will you take in that moment or let it pass?

I awoke to quiet.

I had slumbered late this morning, in a hotel room in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

I was far from home, attending the Relevant Conference and my west coast body still lagged three hours behind.

It was the day before I was to head home and I was hoping to gather myself some space — to capture on paper the stories swirled out of coffee sips, hellos, and hallway conversations.

As I turned the corner to head towards the dining area,  a corridor of descending white speckles peered through the windows.

It was snowing.

In My Hand

I forgot how white snow is — how light it floats and yet, rhythmically making it’s way towards the ground.  Each spec seemed to moved in concert with each other, keeping time to the click of nature’s metronome.

The last time I saw snow was over six years ago.  Before I became a mom.  Before the perimeter of where I drove or walked kept me close to home for baby’s naps.

Hotel guests walked by with beanies pulled down over ears, mittens too.  There I was, in California-weathered blouse, feeling quite out of place.

It was a moment God placed in my hand.

Run out.  Feel the snow.

I looked around.  People would think I am weird. My hair and clothes would get wet.  I wasn’t somewhere out in nature after all.  This was a hotel.  In Harrisburg.

I stood there mind static, heart mixed.

Just A Moment

I walked past the sliding doors, out from under the overhang and into the lightly whisping wind.

I looked up to snowflakes crash landing on my nose and eyelids.

I tasted a snowflake.

I crouched low to see a flower, petals blanketed lightly.

My nose smelled wet air.

Thank you, God.

Beauty.

I ran back in, teeth chattering, and composure collected (nothing to see here, folks!).

It was just a moment.

That’s all it took to awaken my soul. God uses beauty to bring rest to my soul.

Before It Passes

We don’t always have a whole morning or a long afternoon.

Many times, what we have are moments God folds into our hands.

If we follow that tug — as children easily do — we give ourselves permission to enjoy the gift of time once again.

A song.

A poem.

A sunlit spot on the sofa.

A cup of cocoa.

A hug.

A hello.  Even a short conversation.

A walk in light rain to the mailbox.

A picture of the last leaves on the tree.

The first snow of the year.

Be attentive to those first or the last moments that rest gently in your hand.

Give your soul the breath of God’s presence.

Enjoy a moment before it passes.

“Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure” ~ Psalm 16:9

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What are the moments this week that have awakened your soul?

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Christian singer/songwriter Shaun Groves gave a soul-refreshing concert at the Relevant Conference,
sharing faith-inspiring songs like "Awaken My Soul", giving voice to God's heart for children
around the world on behalf of Compassion International.