When I Pause the Longest…

In his biography of Leonardo da Vinci, Antonio Vallenten writes about something that happened while the artist was working on his famous painting of the Last Supper in a monastic chapel in Milan. Apparently, da Vinci spent many hours just sitting in the chapel in meditation, not actually painting. Some of the monks noticed this and began to resent what they called “idle periods.” They accused him of wasting time. Da Vinci justified his quiet moments of reflection by saying, “When I pause the longest, I make the most telling strokes with my brush.”

In a world where so many of us are so busy, I think we could learn something from da Vinci. When we rush from one activity to the next, or when fill every waking moment with some sort of activity or entertainment, we lose greater perspective.  

I’ve seen several studies lately that correlate idle time with enhanced creativity. That “idle time” is not time online, or in front of the tv, or even in a book, but instead a time of reflection or meditation.

In the gospels, Jesus sets a pattern for us. He alternates time working and serving those in need with time spent apart away from the crowds in prayer. May you and I find ways to pause, reflect, and pray.

Let us pray: God of grace, help us to find time apart; time to rest, time to renew the soul in your presence. Through that time, may you bring us healing, new insights, and restored life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.