Rather than simply anticipating being able to enjoy the sweetness of God’s presence someday far into the future, we can deepen our connection to His peace, presence, and joy now—in this very moment (pg. 92).
And this is where the Church of Jesus Christ deserves a little (or a lot) more credit. In our attention to the many needful things to do as members of Christ’s Church, sometimes the many excuses Saints have to stop doing are overlooked. Compared to a typical modern schedule, think of all the opportunities we have to stop: the Sabbath, personal prayer and scripture study, family meals, family prayer and scriptures, date night, family home evening, sacrament, the temple, and more. Every one of these events is a prime “stopping time”—especially if we approach it in that way. Rather than a divinely prompted pause in our stream of doing-many-other-things, however, these sacred practices often still remain just-one-more-thing-to-do (pg. 18)
Rather than something to “finish,” prayer can thus become a sacred practice of personal retreat. Instead of something to “get through,” scripture study can be a divine communion assisted by His words. And the Sabbath itself can become a relished mindfulness retreat happening each week, right within the walls of our own homes and chapels. In each case, these practices can become life-changing anchors in a larger culture swirling around us with hurricane force (pg. 21)
In all these ways, rather than merely expanding activity or busyness, living the gospel can be experienced as a set of deeply restorative practices that help to cultivate more stillness in our lives—and all the divine inspiration and intimacy that can arise from just a bit more calm and space (pg. 21).
We’ve seen over and over examples of how tender spiritual lives become depleted and gutted by an inability to genuinely stop, deeply rest, and authentically commune with God (pg. 195).
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