Pause

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Go ahead, hit the button, just for a second.

I am talking about the pause button. You have one, everything has one, but you probably haven’t hit it in a while.

Hitting the pause button is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. It’s not a full stop or even a change of direction. It’s just what the button says, a pause.

If you’re like me, and most of the world, life gets a little out of hand more often than we’d like to admit. Between your children’s insane schedule, your spouse’s need for assistance and that other thing you do; what do you call it, oh yeah, your job… you pretty much live a nonstop life.

A pause is necessary if you’re going to survive. The pause button lets you rest for a beat in the midst of whatever, whisper a prayer to God for help or thankfulness and just breathe.

Last night ended with a furious pace: freshman football, home to prep supper, clean up, organize the homework schedule, write a sermon, try to sleep, up early, youngest to 7 AM zero hour class, press the suit, return the emails, grab the two boxes that go to the church, head to the office for the video conference, mentally prep for the funeral in three hours, calendar reminds of pastors conference and premarital counseling headed your way, overwhelming feeling of being crushed settles in… but, no time to die yet, it’s not on the calendar.

It’s 7:18 in the morning, one bag on my shoulder, one box in my hands, another bag hanging from my teeth. As I close the truck door with my foot, I look up to see… that sunrise.

Probably not the most beautiful sunrise anyone’s ever seen.

And the church parking lot, definitely not the most scenic overlook.

But, it was just what I needed.

Pause… Breathe… Thank you, Jesus…

Today can probably get pretty crazy, if it isn’t already. Remember everything has a pause button… Even you.

Hit it.

The world can wait for you to breathe, think and speak with your God.

Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

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