Keeping a Slower Pace on a Simpler Path

And a Quiet Walk Through Central Park

My husband was wearing eyeliner the first time he asked me out on a date.

We were cast members in a church production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Jeff played the part of one of Joseph’s eleven brothers, and I was in the chorus. At one of the dress rehearsals, while crouching behind a heavy theater curtain and waiting for our cue, Jeff leaned over in full costume and make-up, and he asked me if I wanted to go out the following Saturday.

Needless to say, it’s been a long time since Jeff wore eyeliner, but the theater will always be a part of us.

Last summer we spent a few days in New York City, and anytime we’re in Manhattan, we like to catch a show on Broadway. But my favorite part of the city is Central Park.

The park is a deliberate oasis among an urban landscape of cement and steel and glass. It’s a designated respite. A sanctuary of solace. A place where the noise and hurry dissipate.

A long walk through Central Park reminds me how important it is that we remain diligent in seeking quiet pockets of space away from the rush and noise of daily life.

We all need an oasis — a quiet place where we can get away from the fray. Perhaps a walk through the woods. Or maybe a stroll through a neighborhood park. Just something. Anything. To get us outside — outside of our regular routine — to breathe fresh air and enjoy a cool breeze.

Because without an oasis, we forget we need one.

After three decades of raising kids, I now find myself inhabiting a quiet nest. Admittedly, it’s easier these days to find a space of quiet, but I also want to be a good steward of this time I’ve been given, which is why I’ve devoted myself to growing deeper in my prayer life.

How can I pray better for my kids?

How can I pray more for my neighbors?

How can I pray longer for lost loved ones?

Going to the theater is fun. It’s something we will always enjoy. While in Manhattan, we saw The Great Gatsby. But more than anything, I want these quieter days to count for something more. More than a fun trip to the city. More than a special evening at the theater. I want to invest in something that will last — even if no one ever sees the investment but my Father in heaven.

So I like to combine long walks at a local park with prayer. The grand scale of Central Park is something I can only enjoy once in a while, but the park around the corner from my house is lovely too in its own quiet way.

Wherever you are today, whether you’re deep in the throes of all the busyness that life with little ones can bring or perhaps wondering how to fill your quieter days, I want to invite you to find a quiet place, your very own oasis, that can become your go-to spot, where you can retreat for prayer.

Sure, we can pray at any moment no matter where we are — and I hope you do! — but I also think it’s good to have a designated place for prayer. I have such a space in my home, but I also love a beautiful walk through an outdoor sanctuary too, praying to the Creator of beauty and goodness and truth.

It’s just one way I am keeping a slower pace on a simpler path these days.

Shalom.

Denise

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A Few Notes . . .

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*While Waiting for Morning: An Invitation to Pray is available. If you’re like me and you prefer to hold a printed book in your hands, you can find a copy at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.

*And lastly, no part of this newsletter — nor anything I have ever published — has been made with Artificial Intelligence (AI) or ghostwriters. All of my words, including any accidental typos, are my own, except for when I quote others with appropriate citations and links.