"Soul Seeds: Jeda/Selah - My Soft Place to Land"
β±α₯«α‘Β€ πππ₯π₯πππ πΎπ π₯π ππππ ππ‘πππ Β€α₯«α‘β±
ππ π¦ ππ π'π₯ ππ¦π€π₯ π¨πππ π¦π‘ πππ ππππ ππ π ππ¦π₯π₯ππ£πππͺ,
ππ£π π¨π₯π ππ€ π ππ π¦π£πππͺ.
β±α₯«α‘β±α₯«α‘β±α₯«α‘β±α₯«α‘β±α₯«α‘β±α₯«α‘β±α₯«α‘β±α₯«α‘β±α₯«α‘β±α₯«α‘β±α₯«α‘β±
In May, I'm tackling more *emotional, spiritual, and creative growth* (and hopefully a perspective check) with journaling inspiration from Leaca Youngβs class βThe Heart of Journal Writingβ - 2nd quarter is *Growth & Connection*. One of the May prompts is, βletting go to make space,β so that's where I'm starting.
And, Shayda Campbellβs May βJournal With Meβ prompts include: *slow down and savor the season*...create a peaceful, spring-inspired layout with simple floral borders, soft color palettes, and plenty of breathing room for thoughts and plansβ¦ my journal needs a LOT more calm.
There's lots of fabric, stencils, printables (but I got it done in about an hour, and it didn't overwhelm me). Also, the background of the right side is cut (π) from a beautiful hand-stitched bit that I found in a large zip lock baggie for $1.00 at a local neighborhood garage sale. The woman said her mother had made it (and several pieces of age-tinged lace, also in the baggie), had passed, and she needed to clear the house. I promised her it would be lovingly used, and it celebrates my May resolution to βlet go and make space.β
ββ―β¦β΅β¦ββΎβ
Study notes
ββ―β¦β΅β¦ββΎβ
This May, I'm choosing to live in the spirit of jeda, in selah - a slowing down to notice God's nearness.
Jeda (from Indonesian) means βa deliberate pause,β while selah (found throughout the Psalms) signals a holy stopping - a space to breathe, to reflect, to remember God's faithfulness. Both invite us to step out of the noise and into a softer, quieter place.
What is "Jeda"? The word jeda comes from the Indonesian language, meaning a pause, a break, or an interlude of rest. While the spirit of jeda resonates with the themes of mindfulness shared by Korean teacher Haemin Sunim, jeda itself is Indonesian - a reminder that the human longing for stillness and space transcends cultures.
There is a famous Buddhist saying that everyone appears as buddhas in the eyes of the Buddha and everyone appears as pigs in the eyes of a pig. It suggests that the world is experienced according to the state of oneβs mind. When your mind is joyful and compassionate, the world is, too. When your mind is filled with negative thoughts, the world appears negative, too. When you feel overwhelmed and busy, remember that you are not powerless. When your mind rests, the world also rests.
When paired with the biblical selah - a holy pause woven throughout the Psalms - jeda becomes a soft place to land in the heart of God: a sacred slowing, a quiet invitation to notice His nearness.
As I step into this deliberate slowing, Iβm learning to trust the pauses - not just as interruptions, but as invitations.
Moments when God leans close and reminds me:
* I'll never walk alone.
* This choice is an act of trust.
* To pause is to believe that God is holding all things together, even when I loose my frantic grip.
* To rest is to remember that I am not abandoned or left to carry lifeβs burdens alone.
A Bible study on βYou'll Never Walk Aloneβ echoes this truth: God promises His constant presence and support - not just when things are easy, but especially when storms rage around us. Hebrews 13:5 reminds us: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
And Philippians 4:13 strengthens us: "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
God's unwavering presence is a soft place to land. When the world feels sharp, heavy, relentless - He offers a place to be still, a place to be held.
Choosing jeda and selah is choosing Him. Key Reminders for my Journey:
* Godβs Presence is unshakable: Even when we feel forgotten, we are not alone. God is beside us, within us, leading us.
* Strength comes from God: Itβs not about pushing harder - it's about leaning deeper. His strength is perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
* Hope will not disappoint: In every hardship, there is a promise: the storm will pass, and the Son will shine again.
* Scripture is my compass: Verses like Isaiah 41:10 ('Fear not, for I am with you') offer daily anchors for our anxious hearts.
* Community matters: We are designed to walk together - lifting, encouraging, praying. God often uses others to show us His love in tangible ways. In the beloved song You'll Never Walk Alone (originally from Rodgers and Hammersteinβs Carousel), the refrain is clear: βYou are never truly alone.β Metaphorically, Jesus whispers it to St. Faustina and to each of us: βI am with you.β
And so I pause -
Not to lose time, but to gain presence.
Not to withdraw, but to draw nearer.
Not to control, but to be carried.
My prayer:
Lord,
Teach me to love the pause.
Teach me to breathe deeply of Your presence when the world spins fast.
Be my soft place to land when I grow weary.
Remind me that I never walk alone - not in joy, not in sorrow, not in the unknown.
Let my life move to the rhythm of Your heart: slow enough to notice, soft enough to be changed.
Thank You for never letting go.
Amen.
