Stop and Listen

In Stop and Listen, Bethany Dillon sings,

Things to do pile up

Oh so quickly

Too many days I feel like

I run on empty

Does anyone else out there feel like me?

A post I read not long ago on Gretchen’s blog made me stop and … think.

… are we saying anything worth listening to?

I’m good at doing and talking. Stopping and listening are not high on my list of accomplishments. Scribbling – writing, editing, publishing, writing to friends, blogging. I can do all those things. (Wow!) But when I’m already running on empty and I’ve stolen a little bit of time from something (or someone) else to write a post on my blog, am I saying anything worth listening to … ? Is the most important person on this blog me … or God? Is the theme narcissism or … hope?

I need to stop and listen.

I’d be a fool to forfeit

The chance to take a moment

For you to rise like the dawn

Over my cold, tired heart …

(Stop and Listen by Bethany Dillon)

I need to listen to God – not the books about marketing that stress the vital importance of writing a post every. single. day. (even if I don’t have anything to say) and the value of quantity over quality in things like comments and stats.  I need to get back to what this blog is all about – God and HIS “bright, shining hope”, the story of what HE’S doing with my scribblings and the scribblings (and other things!) of other people, meeting friends and sharing conversations. Oh … I plan to write posts – to share thoughts and pictures. But if I don’t have anything to say, I won’t say it (how is that for a plan?) and I’ll focus less on comments and stats and more on the lovely friends who stop by for a chat via a post and a comment!

Does that sound good … ?

I think so.

What I thought I had lost

Finds me when I stop

Stop and listen …

(Stop and Listen by Bethany Dillon)

After weeks of editing (you’d better believe, I’m so. tired. of. editing …), the pre-publication draft of my book is in the hands of my editor (that would be my father!) awaiting final approval before publication.

Exciting!

The sun is shining – it’s a perfect spring day in England. I’m cooking supper (yes … and blogging at the same time), having spent an afternoon with my grandmother. May you all have a blessed Sunday! Talk soon …

So all together

Let’s stop and sit at His feet

My sisters and brothers …

(Stop and Listen by Bethany Dillon)