Gò0dNews for Men
Find Peace And Quiet In Your Life
“B
by Shane Clements
e still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
• Rise early. If your day is so busy that you just can’t
“Let us be silent, that we may hear the
find the time to be alone and to have stillness and
whispers of the gods.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson
I wake up earlier than my family most mornings to
experience the stillness. I love that time as a husband and
silence, getting up a bit earlier can be a good solution for some people. • Late nights. If you’re not into early mornings, late
father when I can experience an absolutely still household,
nights can be just as peaceful, when everyone’s asleep.
despite there still being three kids, a wife, a dog, and a cat
Turn off the TV and get away from the computer.
in the house. And while I love my family tremendously, this time of tranquility is one of absolute bliss for me.
• Get out into nature. Sometimes households and offices can be a bit noisy and chaotic. To escape the noise, get out into nature as much as possible. Find a park or a trail in some woods to hike. There is a small Presbyterian church with a beautiful creek running through the property that I love to go and sit by to clear my head. • Reading. One of my all-time favorite quiet-time activities! I love curling up with a good book and a cup of coffee when all is quiet and losing myself inside the magical world of fiction. If you haven’t been reading as much as you’d like, finding some quiet time in the morning (or evening) can be a great way to work reading into your routine. • For those with kids, many of these things can be
This time is not only one of my favorite parts of my day
difficult if you have kids to take care of—trust me:
but has become an essential part as well. It soothes the soul,
with five kids, I know the feeling. Some suggestions:
quiets my inner beast, brings out the goodness in me, and
take advantage of the early mornings or late evenings
allows me to hear myself and to hear from God as He often
when they’re sleeping; exchange quiet time with your
speaks in a still, small voice that the hustle and bustle can
significant other so that one watches the kids while
drown out.
the other relaxes or exercises; trade kid-watching duty
So, men (and women), if you are feeling overwhelmed
with a friend or relative; pay a babysitter for a short
and stressed out with all that is required of you, may I
time each day; or find activities for your kids to do
suggest having a time of stillness in your life? It can be
while you get your quiet time.
similarly wonderful. If you don’t have it already, here are
“Silence is a source of great strength.” –Lao Tzu
a few ways to find some quietude in your life and see how
“And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in
the sound of silence can allow your thoughts to emerge. The
the fire: and after the fire a still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12).
a time of silence during your day. It’s just one of the options, but it’s only one option among many.
12 // November 2020
About The Author
good thing is that you don’t need to be an early riser to find Shane Clements C.Ht is a minister of 30+ years serving as a pastor, missionary to the deaf, and evangelist. He loves spending time with his wife Kimberly, their 5 children, and spoiling his grandbabies.
