About the Author

Jill Maisch - as a writer, speaker, missionary, and educator - has a tendency to wander upstream... against the more comfortable current of social and spiritual complacency.

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

"Brain Break" - Published in The Upper Room 1/22/2018

Background
I've taught science in middle school since 1995. Our school has what's called a "rotating block schedule" which means we see a different five of our seven classes each day... with each class lasting 70 minutes. That's a long time - for the students and for the teacher! I started building in a short 'brain break' several years ago. The students love it and those two minutes give me a breather as well. I've also learned it's OK to spontaneously take a short break from my busy day to pray, read a devotion, reflect on Scripture, or just sit quietly with God.

Scripture Reading - Psalm 121:1-8 (NRSV)
I lift up my eyes to the hills - from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.

Focus Scripture - Psalm 121:1-2 (NRSV)
I lift up my eyes to the hills - from where wily help come? My help comes from the Lord..."

Brain Break

     My announcement of "Brain break!" always brings relief and joy to my students. As a teacher, I have found that 13-year-olds are unable to sit through 70 minutes of even my most engaging science lessons. They need a break! A two-minute brain break gives them the opportunity to get out of their seats, stretch, or walk across the classroom to chat briefly with a friend. When we begin class again, the students are relaxed, refreshed, and ready to learn more.
     I have found that a brain break can also provide me with some much-needed relief during a long stressful day. I can give myself a few minutes of peace by moving to a quiet place where I can pray, read a passage of scripture, or simply rest in God's comforting presence.
     A couple minutes alone with God in the middle of a hectic day might be enough to help us feel spiritually restored, physically revitalized, and ready to move on. When we feel stressed and overwhelmed, we can take a brain break - some time apart with God.

Prayer
Thank you, God, for the peace and comfort you bring us even on our most stressful days. Amen.




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