Ever felt that something is missing? That indefinable ‘something’ – which is there, just out of reach or just beyond arms’ length. If you could only remember what it is – or should be – or could be. How it felt when you had it. But now you are missing it, missing what brings the sparkle to your eyes, missing some essential core-of-your-being.

The world has many suggestions as to what might put the sparkle back.

There’s retail therapy of course.

Or better coffee.

Or a faster car, bigger house, newer bathroom. Abs of steel or perfectly toned limbs.

Or that elusive gap between the thighs - apparently the latest fitness test is whether daylight shows between the top of your thighs!

Perhaps my youngest daughter told me the Real Answer, when we were having a virtual face-to-face across the airwaves/Pond.

“Time with the Lord first thing. How am I going to do that? Because if I don’t do that before anything else, it doesn’t happen, however much I determine that I’ll do it later. Life comes in and I miss out on that special time. Maybe I’ll just have to get up earlier. Which means going to bed earlier……”

Maybe the answer is 'quality not quantity.' Good time rather than lengthy time. Or continuous/continuing time rather than the ‘box’ of a fixed number of moments?

Jim Kochenburger once suggested a 30 second retreat:

Stop. Breathe. Thank God for two things... (Phil 4:6)

Have you ever tried it? It seems such a small amount of time. Can it really make such a difference?

So I stopped. Took a deep breath. And gave God thanks for two things.

It did make a difference and I am glad that I did it. But it also felt a little paltry. Just 30 seconds, God, that’s all I can spare right now.

Maybe the short snatched minutes feel like that for you - almost rudely short. But then I thought about one of my little grandchildren, running up to me, throwing their arms around me (or more precisely, my legs) giving me a hug and running off again.

Precious. Brief. Heartfelt. Something I love and which means so much to me.

And to the Heart of the Father - a quick looking to Him, a moment of love and gratitude to Him.

It touches the heart of the Loved One so very deeply.

A tractor ride with Jonah on my birthday!

You may not be able to have a longer time every day. Nor even go away for a few days of re:FRESH re:NEW re:TREAT (although it makes a huge difference if you do).

But anyone can stop, anywhere, to connect with God and give thanks for 30 seconds.

Have you done it? Try it and see what happens.

And then let me know what you think. Was it helpful? How did it feel?

Who else might you suggest it to?

And to put the real sparkle back in your eyes, might you need a fresh new treat? There's lots of different types available at The Vine at Mays Farm: click this link to check the calendar and find one that appeals to you!

My favourite photo of a hug: two of the grandchildren, Talitha and Will, hugging after the funeral service for their great grandmother - my mother, who died in an horrific car accident four years ago on September 24th 2010.