I put both boys down for some quiet time today.  Daniel seemed to embrace it.  He took one final sip of water, grabbed his blanket, and hid his head in the recesses of slumber.  I watched him long enough to know that he was tired and his eyes were closed.
Five minutes later…

If you work with children, or humans, you know how life-altering five minutes can be.

Five minutes later I hear the door to his room.  It opens.  It closes.  I think I survived!

Nope.  He is rejecting quiet time.  Daniel is sitting outside of his room.  He is talking to himself.  Now he is yelling for me.  Now he is pushing a toy tractor around the room.

Life moves pretty fast around the mindscape of a 20 month old.  

Oh I know why he does it.  There is so much to do – so much to see – so much to distract.

I get distracted as well.  Maybe we all do?  

Here is an election.  Here is a tsunami.  Here is a church service.  Here is a toy tractor in the hands of a son that should be sleeping.

Are you rejecting quiet time too?  It is so easy even a two-year-old can do it.

What are the benefits to putting down the distraction and being silent?  Just for a little bit.  Try five minutes.  Try stopping.  Try listening.  Try meditating.  (And try helping me convince my Daniel.) (Try helping God convince me.)

Thomas Merton said, “If you love truth, be a lover of silence.”

Proverbs 17:28 “Even a fool, when he keeps silent is considered wise…”  

Today, Jesus, help me not reject quiet time.  Help me hear You.