The Sacred Pause

There’s a rhythm to life that we sometimes forget to notice.
We move from one thing to the next — planning, preparing, doing — always focused on what comes next.

But joy doesn’t only live in what we plan. It often shows up quietly, in the spaces between everything else.

A few years ago, I hosted a garden party at my home. It was an informal affair, but I encouraged everyone to dress up. We spent the afternoon outside, visiting and wandering along the path through the field. It was a lovely day — filled with relaxed conversation, exploration, smiles, and food. Everything was beautiful.

But what most of us remember most vividly isn’t anything I had planned for.

It was a little girl.

She couldn’t have been more than three years old — wearing a bonnet and a lovely summer dress, holding a single flower in her hand. She wandered along the path, smiling, completely lost in her own joyful world.

That little girl changed those of us who were watching, noticing.
When do we lose that sense of joy — that awe, that wonder?

“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10

And so now, I take time in my days and weeks for what I call the Sacred Pause. It isn’t something I plan — it just happens.
You’ll know when it’s time.

All it really takes is being open to it — not rushing. If you’re in a hurry, you’ll miss it. But if you leave a little early for everything on your schedule, you’ll have the space to notice when the moment arrives. You’ll know when it’s time to just stop… to notice… to experience the joy of what happens next.

As you take the time to pause, you’ll begin to see that there’s far more joy and wonder around you than you may have realized.
Become as a child again.
Feel awe at this wonderful world around us.

Pause.

It’s such a small word, but it changes everything.
When we pause — even for a breath — something shifts inside. The noise softens. Gratitude rises.
The heart catches up with the pace of life.

You don’t have to host a party to experience it. You can practice it right where you are:

• Pause before you eat and notice the colours on your plate.
• Pause before you speak and let your words soften.
• Pause in the middle of your day — step outside, feel the air, and look up.

That simple space between moments is where joy likes to live.

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Today’s Invitation

Find one moment to pause.
Not because you have to, but because you can.
Because your soul might be waiting for you right there — in the stillness.

…and yes, the photo at the top of this post is that darling little girl, unposed, experiencing the joy of her walk in our world. What a blessing it was to capture this beautiful moment!

Living with More Joy in the Sacred Pause,

Velvet