Quiet in the Chaos
Posted on: April 5, 2016
- In: Everyday Life | Faith | Prayer
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For the past few weeks, my life has revolved around preparing my house for sale. I’ve been cleaning, purging, packing and donating items, but much of the work has been done by others: the real estate agent, carpet stretcher, piano movers, hardwood floor refinisher, painter, window installers, and repairman/renovator.
We’ve been living out of suitcases at my parents’ home and living in our finished basement owing to a lack of furniture on the hardwood floors upstairs—and to the fact that there’s a piano in the middle of my kitchen, waiting to be moved from there back into the living room.
To say things have been a little chaotic would be an understatement. And along with the physical effort and upheaval, my emotions are all over the place: worry about how long it could take to sell, sadness about the changes in my life, anxiety about what lies ahead.
Finding a little quiet in the chaos remains easier said than done. But even in the chaos, I still find God.
I talk to him about my doubts and fears and my lack of strength, and he is always with me. And he has blessed me with, as one pastor used to describe it, “God-incidences.” Skilled tradespeople have been able to fit me into their schedules on short notice and at a good price. Music and yoga teachers and people at church as well as extended family have provided me with more of a support network than I could have hoped for, given that I struggle with reaching out to others. And my son has been more helpful and cooperative than usual.
Whether our chaos is the unexpected kind or the everyday chaos of school or work and family responsibilities, I pray that we would find those moments where we share what’s on our hearts with God and let him speak to us in the way he chooses—through an offer of help or support when we need it, a timely job opportunity, even beautiful sunshine after cloudy days or birdsong early on a cool spring morning. May we open our hearts to hear his voice.
O that today you would listen to his voice!
~ Psalm 95:7*
(*Scripture quote taken from the Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version, 2nd Catholic Edition.)
A Catholic Convert in Ottawa 