As the beginning of the school year approaches, I find that life is becoming a bit frenetic.  TG and TB will be attending different schools, and that means we have twice the orientations, twice the meet the teachers, two separate school supply lists, two main routes to school (plus multiple alternatives for the days traffic dictates otherwise), and you get the picture.  And that’s just TG and TB.

Things are heating up at my job, as well.  I’m working on course overviews and lesson plans and all the things that come with being a teacher.

Not becoming overwhelmed in the midst of the madness can be challenging, so I’m learning to cultivate quiet.  Regardless of what is going on, I’m concentrating on taking a mental escape to a tranquil place where I can bask in the beauty of God’s calm and peace.

While I wouldn’t classify myself as outdoorsy, I love being outside surrounded by the wonder of God’s creation.  So as I’m cultivating my quiet, I typically think of something in nature.  Today I thought of this cave.

I’m not good yet, at cultivating quiet, but like any other discipline, my ability will increase as I practice.  Fortunately, God has given me many opportunities to hone my skill.