What's in the empty space?

I have been and will continue to make a big deal about this thing I call (    ). Inserted for emphasis. Pause. Of note. 

So, what is it that goes into that empty space when you are in (   )? Do you tend to want to fill it up with something quickly when you take your special moments of pause? Wait. What's that, they are not really "special?" More "squeeze them in wherever you can find a splinter of time" moments, than intentional "appointments" with your self? Same way with moments in sanctuary, prayer, reflection or just hanging out with God? Becomes "spare time" instead of "part time?" Hmmm....

So, this makes me wonder which part of your time do you think is warranted to bring to your moment with the Creator of the Universe. Master. Yahweh. Adonai. Abba Father. 

Is it an issue of time? Convenience? Urgency? Emptiness? 

Or is it fear? 

Letting Go of Our Fear of God

We are afraid of emptiness. Spinoza speaks about our "horror vacui," our horrendous fear of vacancy. We like to occupy-fill up-every empty time and space. We want to be occupied. And if we are not occupied we easily become preoccupied; that is, we fill the empty spaces before we have even reached them. We fill them with our worries, saying, "But what if ..."

It is very hard to allow emptiness to exist in our lives. Emptiness requires a willingness not to be in control, a willingness to let something new and unexpected happen. It requires trust, surrender, and openness to guidance. God wants to dwell in our emptiness. But as long as we are afraid of God and God's actions in our lives, it is unlikely that we will offer our emptiness to God. Let's pray that we can let go of our fear of God and embrace God as the source of all love. Henri Nouwen

Of everything you might want to bring into your next moments of    (   ), leave your "afraid" out. It has no place in those moments. Bring with you a different kind of fear, not the type most of us  carry around like darkness, failure, death,  money, change.  Bring the kind of fear experienced by Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Paul or the many others who were called into a moment of holy (    ).  

To fear and not be afraid; that is the paradox of faith.  A.W. Tozer

Take a moment. Empty in.

For Emphasis -- (b)