Be Still

May 27th,

   We often underestimate the power of stillness in our lives.

Walking down the stream today, installing the last of our signs, I took a moment to sit back and watch the waterfall.  At first thought it's quite inconsequential, but then again how would we ever know if we've never taken the time to do it?
 
  There something to say for the power of quiet and/or meditation, actually there's a lot. Think of this; not too long ago there were no radios, no cell phones, no vehicles, no laptops, heck (and hold onto your seat for this one)..... No Facebook.  And you know what, I envy those who lived in such times, to think that you could go an entire day with no human communication sounds like a little slice of heaven to me, imagine the time you'd have on your hands. No, no! That makes me a hermit! How could I ever want a painful solitude like that!? Right?  Actually i'd say taking some time here and there to be still, be quiet and listen is just about the most communicative thing we can do.  If indeed we are truly looking for better lives, better relationships, and ultimately a better standing with God then we can't afford not to be silent.  In fact when we calm ourselves and become silent we hear some of the most important things in our lives. Take an everyday conversation for instance, if I spend the entire time talking and leave no room for their side of the conversation how can I expect to deepen my understanding much less the relationship? The funny thing about listening is that it doesn't take any talking.  Our best talks often take place when we listen the most and speak the least.

    I personally know a guy who believes this principle quite strongly, in fact before his first public speech he hit the hills for forty days, extreme? Maybe, or maybe he knew something we didn't.  He knew that there's a point when we need that peace and quiet.  When we give ourselves that time we allow ourselves to fulfill the roll we were originally intended to fill; men and woman humbly standing before God, earnestly seeking him, ready to hear what He has to say. Does this mean we need to pack the bags and go meditate on our lives in Alaska for four weeks every time we get an unsettling feeling? No.  But it does mean that there are times God wants us to step away from our music, games, sports, or whatever our filler is to hear what he's got to say; besides I promise it'll be a lot more important than that last level of Zelda you've already beaten twelve times.  God would love to talk to us like you'd like to talk to a best friend, no blaring music, phone calls or distractions, just some nice quiet time for a real talk about how things are going.  Like I said yesterday God is a personal god, in fact I think he'd prefer to kick back at the coffee shop to a good cup of french vanilla and talk about college, jobs and (it's no big secret guys) girls that make us look like absolute idiot's.  But wait, that could take hours? Yup. Sure could.  In fact that means we might have to adjust our work schedule so we can get off early, or really dig in to our studies the night before, somethings going to have to give if we really want to make time to hear God.

    There is so much to hear from his side of things, in fact He's really got his stuff together and he really know's what he's talking about.  Proverbs 5:10 says, Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.  He's trying to help us out guys! He's saying listen up so ya' don't die. It's not complicated or sophisticated, he's got all the wisdom and understanding there is and he's dying to share it with us! we just need to take out the earphones, step outside and give him a chance. Try it. I promise if you give him your attention he'll give you His. James 4:8 "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you..."  That's not fiction, thats real, and he really means it.  I have personally underestimated the power and beauty of being still before God. I can say from personal experience the few times I have really given him what I thought was valuable like my time, he has given me something a thousand times better, peace. Peace of heart when I hear him, I cannot fully explain it just as you cannot fully explain what it feels like to free fall from a plane. It's simply indescribable.

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God.


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