Being Still

Be still. “Be still and know that I am God.” (Ps. 46:10)

How difficult it is to be quiet. Today, we are surrounded by sounds. Outside, we hear voices and dogs barking, traffic moving, and car doors slamming.

Inside, I often have music playing, or the radio or television are turned on. On the days that all is silent, I often feel uncomfortable…but why?

Today we are so used to processing incoming information, that acknowledging our thoughts and feelings is like going on an archeological dig. The immediacy of technology has caused us to lose touch with ourselves. Background noise has become comfortable. There is too much stimulation to be quiet and think. When I am forced to be quiet, or intentionally attempt to become quiet, I notice hangnails. I notice the wind blowing through fields. I search the trees for squirrels. I wonder what my neighbors are doing. It is hard to settle down to silence.

However, as I settle into this foreign mode, I begin to realize that I am blessed because I CAN hear. What a joy when, in the spring, birdsong greets me as I awake! Soon that gratitude expands to other things, and I begin to thank God for them. Then I tell Him what I am hoping for, and we spend a delightful time together.

Yes, when I allow myself to become still, prayers and praise come from out of the silence. Have you been still today?