Day 176 -- Pondering or Idling Time

Often Joseph Smith would state that he sat pondering the scriptures and he was caught away in a vision.  Then he would say that he was pondering something and his mind was enlightened.  We are counselled to ponder the scriptures, the conference talks and the spiritual instruction we receive from our leaders and so many other things.

Then I compare that with idle time.  "The idle mind is the devil's workshop."  "...slothful and not a wise servant."  Being slothful, or just idle has been looked upon as lazy, and an invitation to the adversary.

When I see someone sitting, closing their eyes, I wonder if they are sleeping, or pondering the mysteries of life.  I wonder if they have an empty mind or are they communing with the Infinite.  As I see someone in that state, I should not even consider judging what they are doing for first of all it is none of my business.  Second, it is between he and the Lord.

So when I internalize this concept, I pause at the end of a day and wonder how much of my time was idleness and how much was pondering.  Can those popular words "anxiously engaged" include pondering?  Is there a restriction to where one can ponder?  There isn't a restriction on where one  can idle his time away, at least in my mind.

I was pondering this morning before I climbed out of bed.  I came up with some spiritual direction that I need to put into practice today.  I also often receive spiritual direction while I am in the  shower.  It is a time when no one else can bother me.  My mind can commune with the infinite and receive answers. 

Some times at work I sit "pondering" and the others in the room question what I am doing.  Needless to say I don't get much pondering done at work.  But I can on the way to work and on the way home.  I love my minutes, times of pondering, for I believe it is nothing less than prayer to Father.  At times, not all the time, Father is present and answers questions and gives direction.  Other times I just ponder and question, and think about certain things.  Am I idle?  I guess, but my idleness is with Father or the Holy Ghost and not creating a workshop for that evil one.  I love to ponder.  If we are idle with the Infinite, then it is pondering.  Is that a good definition?