The Power of a Sacred Pause
Slowing down in God’s Country
“The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.”
—Rumi
A Note Before We Begin
This week’s Mindful Musing is posted a day later than usual. I started writing it while waiting for my flight home after a long, beautiful weekend away—but somewhere between the quiet moments and the terminal noise, it hit me: this musing is about presence.
And so I paused. I chose to fully experience the final hours of my trip and wait to write until I was grounded—literally and energetically—back home, centered, and clear.
So thank you for your patience. I hope the timing serves as a gentle reminder that presence isn’t about perfect timing, but intentional timing.
Now, let’s drop in...
This past weekend, I found myself waking up to the soft rhythm of the Columbia River in Stevenson, Washington. The windows were open to crisp mountain air. The water shimmered in the morning light. A soaking tub on the deck invited stillness as the sun set.
It wasn’t my first time in Stevenson—my husband Jon and I came exactly a year ago for a dear friend's wedding and his birthday. But something about this trip was different. It felt quieter, more rooted. Sacred.
We stayed in a cozy riverside cabin, walked everywhere, disconnected from the usual noise. No TV. No endless scrolling. I checked in on our animals (if you know my crew, you know that’s non-negotiable—huge love to those who care for our special-needs pets), but otherwise I was rarely on my phone.
And with that came space—space to be fully present with my husband, reconnect with old friends, to laugh freely, to meet the eyes of strangers and say hello, to feel immense gratitude for the beauty around me and the life within me.
This wasn’t just a getaway. It was a pause—the kind that recalibrates your mind and spirit. Not an escape from life, but a return to myself.
“Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself.”
We often think of presence as something reserved for yoga mats or faraway vacations. But the truth is, presence is a practice. A choice. A moment we make sacred simply by paying attention.
In my everyday life, I return to presence through prayer, movement, time in nature, connecting with people I love. But on this trip, it was less about “doing” and more about being. I let go of the mental checklists and opened myself to absorb, embody, and receive. Clarity came not from thinking, but from allowing.
What am I taking home with me? A reminder that I don’t want to live for the next vacation or even the next weekend—I want to live fully now. Aligned, awake, and anchored in gratitude
If you're feeling stretched, scattered, or exhausted, this is your reminder: you don’t need to go off-grid to experience peace. But you do need to pause. Even if just for a breath. A walk. A moment of silence before your next scroll or reply.
Because the sacred isn’t in the schedule—it’s in the stillness.
A Gentle Invitation
If you’d like to explore this idea more deeply, here are a few journaling prompts to help guide your own sacred pause:
What does "being fully present" mean to me right now—and what does it feel like in my body when I am?
Where in my day could I carve out even five minutes to be with myself—without a screen, without a goal, just to be?
What clarity or inner wisdom am I ready to receive if I slow down and listen?
Take your time. There’s no rush to find answers—just permission to pause. If you feel called to share, comment below or send me an email. I'd love to witness your reflections.
With presence and love,
Angie
