Mar 22

Mar 22 Strategic Pause

The magic is in the silence between notes that build into phrases and music.

Through my years of musical training, I heard many times: a notated rest on the score requires as much careful attention as any note calling to be played. The length of the rest may be long enough to let another instrument speak, but also just short enough to take a breath. In each instance, the pause gives life to the movement. These are not random, but strategic; they have a purpose.

Strategic pauses have been around since creation. From the narrative in the book of Genesis, we find God working six days but resting on the seventh He rested. The implication in this narrative is 'rest' but also 'review' as God stepped back to inspect and admire what He created.

There is a lot we can learn from a rhythm that includes a pause.

When we pause, we may be able to hear a voice that is covered. We may be able to listen to our thoughts instead of the surrounding clutter. Deepak Chopra states it this way: Silence, pause, is the space between thoughts where insight can make itself known.

In the culture of 2020, we find ourselves surrounded and bombarded with noise of all kinds, work, family, entertainment, and all multiplied by technology. We are surrounded and even overwhelmed by streams of inputs.

Is it time we follow the example set in Genesis 1 and musical notation to 'pause'? What would we hear? What would we think?

As in music, a strategic pause in a day or week could come in many forms.

Pause, be silent in a meeting to listen and let others speak.
Pause, in your home to listen to your children playing and give thanks.
Pause, turn off the technology; let your mind have a break from 'input'; you may have inspiring thoughts.
Pause, get away from everyone for a time to reflect on who you are, and your value.

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Psalm 46:10-11 says

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

In this scripture, we see the encouragement to "Be still" or in the context of this post "pause." Here the writer suggests pausing to reflect on who God is. There is another interesting word in this passage, Selah. You will find the word throughout the poetry of the Bible. Although scholars don't totally agree on its meaning, they do agree it was a break of some kind in the poetry. Some suggest it was an instruction to "pause" in silence.

For our purposes, we will land on that meaning.

Picture the scene a massive choir singing in unison the words of the Psalms. The sound is beautiful they make music alternating between notes and rests creating phrases. Then when they come to the word "selah," they stop. Nothing, no music, no sound, just silence. At that moment, you can see, in the strategic pause, they are in deep thought, reflection on the previous words.

"Be still and know…"

Is it time we plan strategic pauses in our lives?