Are you familiar with the Austin Tex-Mex restaurant, El Arroyo, that is probably more famous for its witty signs than its food these days? The restaurant signs pop up daily on social media and has expanded to a line of merchandise from t-shirts to coasters to calendars and the list goes on. 

This spring one of the signs caught my eye and has stayed with me – “My brain has too many tabs open.” 

I don’t know about you, but I have too many tabs open on my computer, iPhone and iPad, and my life is being pulled in more directions these days than ever before: Aging parents, adult children, grandchildren, friends, church, work and the list continues to expand. 

All this to say – my life has too many tabs open. I am an excellent multitasker and can juggle deadlines with the best of them, but I began to see more of my days were filled with anxiety instead of joy. 

This year, I am using Tim and Kathy Keller’s devotional book, The Song of Jesus, for my daily reading. In April, I was in Psalms 46 and verse 10 hit me: “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 

Being still is an intentional effort for me, especially at work. I always have another deadline, meeting, email, site visit or phone call demanding my attention. I have too much on my plate to make time for stillness, but I am beginning to realize that intentionally making the time to be still and focusing on God resets my priorities and adds meaning and joy to all areas of my life. 

The devotional thought from the Kellers ends with this prayer: “Lord, to ‘be still’ means to not be anxious or fretting or complaining or boasting. There is no more proper response to really seeing God as He is – transcendent beyond all imagination – than to be still and adore.” Amen

Written by Jerilynn Armstrong, senior director of corporate and foundation giving at Buckner International.

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