The Quiet Life
As the leaves fall, pumpkins sit on porches, and mums color our world, we enter the season of rhythms, schedules, and “back to school” life. For many of us, this means weekends filled with sports events, activities of all kinds, and a packed schedule. Today, I am going to look at what it looks like to walk a different path than the world. How do we slow down in a busy culture?
There are some things necessary and needed to live life that we can’t really take out of the schedule, like work, appointments, and school. Slowing down does not take a reordering of these necessary things but a reordering of the things we are choosing. A quiet life is a life that is enjoyed where you are, with exactly what God has given you: the trials, pains, suffering, joy, laughter, and peace. The quiet life encompasses all those things and truly delights in the present moment. In this article, we will take a dive into the theme of a quiet life.
Slowing Down
It is in slowing down that we begin to realize the state of our hearts. So many times, the hurries of the week leave us in a place of whiplash, and we need to recover and regroup. I would argue that this is something we need to do daily, even, this slowing, seeking and quieting our hearts and minds. Slowing allows for a recognition of the mundane beauty in our lives. There is so much beauty, and technology tends to grab hold of us so that we miss these moments.
When we are practicing God’s presence, as the book Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence teaches us, we are focusing on moments with Jesus. This means delighting in all things. It is delighting in a baby’s giggles and a child’s joy; it is delighting in the smells of apple pie on a crisp fall day; it is delighting even in washing the dishes or correcting a child because it means that there are mouths to feed and growth happening. It is seeing suffering as a means to be broken before God, an opportunity to trust and more deeply know the God of the universe.
A Reflection from Scripture
Let’s look at a relevant passage of scripture.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 says, “[Aspire] to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you.”
Living the quiet life does not mean we leave all work behind; it means doing your work quietly. This is quite the opposite of our world these days, which celebrates celebrities and influencers. While these things are not bad in themselves, they do carry weight and criticism. Living this quiet life seems contrary to what the world chooses.
Jesus himself was the perfect example of one who lived the quiet life. He began his public ministry at 30 years old, which means much of his life was hidden away, most likely working with his hands. Francis Chan speaks on this in his sermon “The Power of the Quiet Life” if you’d like to hear more on this.
Applying The Quiet Life
How do I practically live this out in my daily life? Here are some possibilities for you to consider.
What are areas of your life that you find can distract you from being in the moment?
Some would say social media, YouTube, tv, sports, podcasts, etc. Specifically for you, what distracts you from quiet moments?
Cultivate moments of quiet with your family, your husband, wife, or kids when you are home. Here are some examples:
Turn off any media and ask intentional (or playful) questions to your family.
Put on instrumental music and choose to do a quiet task like a puzzle or painting.
Imagine how a family 100 years ago would live and practice that way of life. Maybe that’s baking, turning the lights off, or going camping. For me, this creates gratitude for our daily amenities.
Build a rhythm of quiet in your work and daily tasks:
Choose to live presently, beginning the day with prayer and ending the day with prayer.
Focus on gratitude in little areas and encourage others where you can.
Quiet Living in Noisy Times
As a mother of three, the quiet life does not come easy—which is why I am drawn to it. But when life’s reality leaves you on your knees, Bible open, wrangling a toddler on your back, and a baby snatching at the pages, you learn to see the gift in the chaos. The gift of moments. In that moment, I can choose to be frustrated at things not going the way I had planned, or I can see the gift of the people right in front of me. Little humans, little walking gifts of grace to me from my beloved Jesus. These little people have taught me countless times about Jesus and His unconditional love.
So many times, we fight the waves when we need to ride them. We would learn so much more and be so much more joyful if we were just more open to living this life as He did. So, practically, it looks like seeking joy in the simple unseen moments—moments where you feel unseen and unnoticed. He does not miss these moments. He sees all suffering; he sees you.