In stillness beauty draws closer. Have you ever noticed that?
I am sitting beside a creek in a state park near my home. It's fall, beautiful and the perfect temperature for writing. I came here looking for quiet, because as it turns out my favorite coffee shop is anything but quiet. My house - well, four guys live there so...
Interestingly, is not exactly silent here either. I hear the creek, which is what I came for. But I also hear a ton of movement. There is so much life taking place on the edge of this creek. There are about ten squirrels enjoying some productive playtime very near me. As I stay still, they draw closer and closer.
I'm struck that stillness invites beauty to come closer to us. The noise of the creek couldn't be heard if I was moving through the leaves near its banks. These rambunctious rodents wouldn't dare venture this close if I were moving around. Birds are landing and singing close by, but wouldn't be if I was not staying still.
Staying still is hard. There is so much to do, so many things that could be being done. There are kids to raise, dishes to do, goals to meet and people to see. Being still doesn't make much sense.
Except that we were created to need it. Our senses are better for it. We are told to do it, for our own sakes.
I am sitting beside a creek in a state park near my home. It's fall, beautiful and the perfect temperature for writing. I came here looking for quiet, because as it turns out my favorite coffee shop is anything but quiet. My house - well, four guys live there so...
Interestingly, is not exactly silent here either. I hear the creek, which is what I came for. But I also hear a ton of movement. There is so much life taking place on the edge of this creek. There are about ten squirrels enjoying some productive playtime very near me. As I stay still, they draw closer and closer.
I'm struck that stillness invites beauty to come closer to us. The noise of the creek couldn't be heard if I was moving through the leaves near its banks. These rambunctious rodents wouldn't dare venture this close if I were moving around. Birds are landing and singing close by, but wouldn't be if I was not staying still.
Staying still is hard. There is so much to do, so many things that could be being done. There are kids to raise, dishes to do, goals to meet and people to see. Being still doesn't make much sense.
Except that we were created to need it. Our senses are better for it. We are told to do it, for our own sakes.
"Be still and know that I am God."
Psalms 46:10
"The Lord will fight for you. You just need to be still."
Exodus 14:14
In stillness, I can marvel better. I can watch a single leaf fall all the way to the ground, or note all the different colors in a single tree. I can watch the squirrel's entire journey up the tree, just to see him race back down ridiculously fast.
I can watch my child's expressions change with the scenes he's creating in his imagination, or appreciate the connection between my husband and my eldest. I can watch the smiles change on my middle son, as he reads something he deems hilarious. Only in my being still do I get to enjoy these things.
Oh, that we are purposeful in building stillness into our lives. That we stop, be still and simply be in our blessed moments. There is more time for taking deep, grateful breaths that way.
I challenge you to do that today.. you'll be so blessed that you did. Do it often. The beauty will appear out of nowhere, and will draw closer to you, I promise.
I can watch my child's expressions change with the scenes he's creating in his imagination, or appreciate the connection between my husband and my eldest. I can watch the smiles change on my middle son, as he reads something he deems hilarious. Only in my being still do I get to enjoy these things.
Oh, that we are purposeful in building stillness into our lives. That we stop, be still and simply be in our blessed moments. There is more time for taking deep, grateful breaths that way.
I challenge you to do that today.. you'll be so blessed that you did. Do it often. The beauty will appear out of nowhere, and will draw closer to you, I promise.
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