Otium Sanctum

"A mind that is harassed and fragmented by external affairs is hardly prepared for meditation. The church Fathers often spoke of Otium Sanctum: 'Holy leisure'. It refers to a sense of balance in the life, an ability to be at peace through the activities of the day, an ability to rest and take time to enjoy beauty, an ability to pace ourselves. With our tendency to define people in terms of what they produce, we would do well to cultivate 'holy leisure'." - Richard Foster A Celebration of Discipline

I remember that Carl Jung once remarked words to the effect that Hurry is not of the devil, but rather Hurry is the devil.

We do not stop our haste to meet with God. We walk with God through the day. The cultivation of the awareness of God in us nears true spirituality. In the thick of thin things He is there, as the Thickest, most Central aspect of life. Cognisance of God, while sensitive to external Hurries, is simply elective from within. We can choose to be aware of God; or we can choose otherwise. Fortunately, our choice does not determine His presence for He is the God who is there. He is there where you need Him to be. He is in us and with us and for us. He is the God of the Preposition. Near. Close. In. On. Through. Over. Under. Around. Inside. Outside. There. Here. And with this ubiquity comes the full rainbow of His fruit from His Tree of Life that gives us succour: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and control of the universe. The God who is there desires to feed you with His ambrosial fruit today. Walk with Him and know Him. And like Adam, you will experience holy leisure in the cool of the day.