As a child attending Sunday school, each week we sang a short, simple song before the story.
Be still and know that I am God,
Be still and know that I am God,
Be still and know that I am God.
Each line had a slightly different tune to it; enough so that even as I typed it out I found myself singing it softly, making sure I captured all the words. Simple words to a simple tune.
Little me frequently got told to please stop talking until the story was over. Others, sitting on multicolored carpet squares arranged in a vague semi-circle, fidgeted and squirmed, waiting to be released to activity time. Little fingers rubbed pennies together, eager for the offering to be taken.
“Being still” was not at the forefront of our minds.
Today, at 22, “being still” is still not at the forefront of my mind.
Though it’s becoming clear God thinks it could be.
Should be.
Needs to be.
For several days, the idea seems to have been attacking me.
Rest.
Rest.
Rest.
Peace.
Peace.
Peace.
Still.
Still.
Still.
It appeared in verses I flipped through.
Lyrics to the songs I listened to.
Conversations at Bible study.
Signs on coworkers’ desks.
Devotions at bedtime.
After a while it didn’t even phase me anymore; I came to expect it.
My instinct is to roll my eyes, to scoff at such an outdated idea. Be still. Ha.
As though accomplishments are achieved in stillness.
As though decisions are made in stillness.
As though questions are answered in stillness.
Except…they might be.
Which may be part of my problem.
I balk at stillness because it is unfamiliar.
Because I am not good at it.
Because I am busy.
Because it might be just what I need.
Excuses are ready at hand…papers to grade, books to be read, blog posts to be written.
But these excuses have not been thrown at me from all sides. Rest has. Peace has. Stillness has.
Be.
Still.
But…how?
Til next time…
~Brianna!~
p.s. Thoughts? Questions? Salutations? Feel free to leave ’em in the comments.
The Art of Becoming 