A Time to Listen

Shared by Marty O'Donnell, from Today God is First ... "Many people live a very planned and orchestrated life where they know almost everything that will happen. But for people in whom God is performing a deeper work, He brings them into a time of quietness that seems almost eerie. They cannot see what God is doing. They just know that He is doing a work that cannot be explained to themselves or to others.

During these times, God is calling us aside to fashion something new in us. It is a place of nothingness designed to call us to deeper roots of prayer and faith. It is not a comfortable place, especially for a task-driven workplace believer. Our nature cries out, "You must do something" while God is saying, "Be still and know that I am God."

I have always been that workaholic, that task-driven person that cannot sit still. Always doing, to a fault. Living a life of corporate climbing, with not enough time given to my family, much less to myself. But as Marty correctly pointed out, my move to Orlando has given me an unexpected gift: the opportunity to listen to God, to prepare myself, to grow my faith and even my legacy.

I do not know exactly what God's plan is, as I live a very different life in Orlando, a bit more alone than I expected but happier too than I expected. Sharing more with others. Writing more. Thinking more. And certainly taking the time to listen, based on a life more filled with prayer than with a rush of activity. It has taken some time to find a new center and I certainly haven't done it alone ... I see my Why Catholic group and my Emmaus experience as major factors. Those too have been part of God's plan, unexpected blessings as they were.

I've learned the biggest lesson of my life ... to trust that plan. To listen to Him. To be the gift I know I can be, however I can be. Thank you, Marty, for the reminder that it is good to be still and know that He is God and that He will guide me without fail.