Yesterday I went to renew my license. As I sat waiting to be called, there was a woman who struck up a conversation with me. A little while later, an older gentleman, who I learned will soon be 90, sat near us and joined in the conversation. The three of us spoke for a while until the woman was called. And then the man and I kept talking until I was called. It was a lovely unexpected bright spot in my day to talk with these strangers.

As I drove away, I was thinking about the conversations and realized that when the three of us were sitting there waiting, none of us had our phones out. And because of that, we saw each other. Not every moment sitting without out phones will end up in a conversation. Yet this interaction made me wonder what conversations and stories we may be missing when we engage with our phones rather than the people who are beside us?

I share this with you today as a reminder to...

pause. breathe. pray.

Let’s choose this Christmas season to give ourselves the gift of not filling empty spaces with the noise of our phones. Instead, in those empty space moments let’s choose to be still with God who will nourish our souls with His presence, or with the gift of the presence of others. And may we remember, we are called to be vessels of love. So this Christmas season, may we see our empty space moments as opportunities to draw closer to God, and to seek ways to extend His love and kindness to others. By doing this, we may find ourselves having a more joyful and less stressful Christmas season.

With love and hope,
Shawn