Alone with God

It's been a challenging couple of weeks with my weekly rhythm disrupted (in a nice way!) by a few days away in Devon with the family during the half term and then a flying visit to the snow covered mountains of northern Norway with the male members of the leadership team at Balham Community Church.

I have been reflecting on why I have been so 'unusually' tired since returning from Norway. I really do not think it's just my age, and am really not too proud to admit that my energy levels are not the same as they used to be. I think I've had an adequate amount of sleep over the past few days and generally sleep well. Perhaps I was more drained than I had realised, when one of our group dislocated his shoulder in Norway and had to spend 4 hours having it put back into place. We all feel tired for many different physical and emotional reasons. However, I wonder how many of us often consider what 'spiritual' tiredness is?

I was fortunate to be able to go away for a day this week. I thought I would probably sleep most of the day, but the space to just 'be', to reflect and gather my thoughts, to give time to being with God, helped me to realise what I had really been missing: time alone with God. One day in His presence was sufficient for me to feel energised again. Nothing dramatic, nothing out of the ordinary. Just being with Him was enough.

Coming back into the normal routine of life is now manageable again. I have come to rest in God.

Des Figueiredo, 09/03/2008