Prayer Chair

“Try to find a seat in the Quiet Car,” my husband said as I hung up the phone to run for my train. Quiet Car? I didn’t know that was a thing, but it sounded glorious.

I hurried through multiple not-so-quiet cars, determined to reach my hopeful paradise. And I let out a “woohoo” when I found it, in hushed tones of course.

After a long day in the city, I was grateful for some guaranteed peace. I could recharge, reflect and relax without being distracted by the noise surrounding me…or the noise I would have created myself.

I have always been drawn to places that demand silence. Libraries. Chapels. Meditation rooms. And I’m a huge sucker for road trips (especially solo road trips), because there is no choice but to be still.

My natural physical tendency is to go, go, go, but my soul craves serenity.

A few years ago, I accidentally created a solution to this problem and it has been an indescribable gift.

The area intended to be the living room in our house sat empty for six years. Empty. The kids even started calling it the “Empty Room” and it stuck. Once it was furnished, we never captured its essence with a new name. But to me it instantly felt like a sanctuary- no TV, soft lighting, comfy furniture, lots of books. Quiet.

I became rather attached to one of the chairs in the room. Angled in the corner next to a window, its beautiful patterns and colors drew me in. I would sit there in the morning after the kids got on the bus and finish my cup of coffee. Across the room, in perfect view is my favorite ceramic cross. I started looking forward to sacred time there- to hang out with Jesus and fuel up for the day.

Prayer Chair.

Today my Prayer Chair is well-stocked with all that I need for my visit: a coaster, a pencil, and a small stack of books including daily devotions, my bible, and a journal. Oh, and a fuzzy blanket neatly folded on the chair. Ok…thrown on the floor behind the chair.

That space has become my “Quiet Car.” A tranquil refuge in the very midst of life’s demands. No matter how many blasted Legos I step on to get there, once I settle in I am on holy ground; everything else fades into the background. I leave with clarity and strength, certain that prioritizing time with God is the most important part of my day.

I must admit to you, however, that consistently carving out this time was (and sometimes still is) a struggle. It is much easier to justify taking time out of our busy lives to care for others than to care for ourselves. But I am learning, albeit ever so slowly, that nurturing my body and spirit first is the best gift I can give to the people around me.

As I write this post, we are snowed in! The proper authorities have instructed us to “hunker down,” and great joy often accompanies such permission to chill (pun intended). The appeal of my Prayer Chair is a similar representation of permission. It says: “Come on. Sit for a few minutes and be still. It’s okay.”

I love Jesus’ words to His disciples in Mark 6:31. He says: “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest a while.” Jesus wants us to rest. And He wants us to rest in Him.

Is there a place and time within your everyday life for a peaceful retreat? Perhaps there is a “Prayer Chair” in your house, or even in your workplace, just waiting for you to visit! If you already have a space like this or if you create one in the coming weeks, please share about it in the Comments (just click on the speech bubble icon). I would love to hear your ideas!

Happy Wednesday-

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28