Stillness

Stillness. Say the word. Let the sound of the word rest in your mouth; the beginning and ending softness of the "s" sound settle on your mind, your heart. The word, with only the slight percussive "t" invites one to a resting of our body, mind and heart for something deep, something good.

If one is honest with themselves they will find a hunger for stillness. Our heart, minds and bodies need stillness to thrive. Taking time for quiet is good in and of itself. However, there is more, so much more.

Perhaps some who have read this far have a concern. Many of us who lived in the rise of eastern meditative practices have a "gut check" whenever someone suggests a practice that appears close to those ideas. Let me emphatically say, I am not speaking of those practices. This is not "an emptying of oneself" but really a time of being present as authentically and deeply as possible, a practice of allowing distractions to fall away and a listening for God's still small voice.

"Be still and know that I am God", an oft remembered phrase from Psalm 46:10, has come to me lately as not so much a suggestion or invitation but a gentle command. Being still to know Him, this is where the depth is but nearly everything in our culture, even in most churches, we are bombarded by "doing" to know Him, not "being still" to know Him. We are constantly invited to read, listen to radio programs, CD's and podcast, watch television to learn; a constant cacophony of good ideas and words but do we take time for stillness? We neglect it to our own peril.

Do we listen for His voice? He chooses to use a still, small voice so that we have to stop in stillness and faith to listen with our hearts. Be still and know that I am God. There is a bit of urgency to it. Shut it all off, find 10 minutes alone, let the distractions fall away and listen, He will speak.