Be Still
Be still and know that I am God
This line was written by an ancient musician of the Jews (Psalm 46.10). Its
message to “be still” remains very relevant to us in 21 st century Australia. To
find time for quiet reflection seems to be harder and harder as we live our busy
lives.
At a recent training day for those involved with youth ministry we were asked
what was the first thing we did in the morning after we woke up. For most of
the group, especially the younger ones, it was to reach for their smartphones to
reconnect with their social networks and catch up with the news of the day.
And immediately the rush of our interconnected, multitasking lives starts,
I was in the minority group as the first thing I do most mornings is to feed my
cat and then sit with him and watch the sunrise. To find time to be quiet, to be
aware of who we are, is something that I believe we all need. In some circles
this might be called mindfulness, but I would suggest in the quiet it is possible
to sense something that is beyond ourselves and our busy lives. We have the
opportunity to sense something that will help us understand who we are and
where we are going, something that will help us see the purpose of our rela-
tionships and our work. You might not give it a name, but Christians would
believe that in the silence we hear the voice of the Holy Spirit.
We can find reflective spaces if we are intent on doing so by turning off the
smartphone or car radio, or by turning inward when we are engaged in an
activity that allows for inner quiet such as commuting on the bus, going for a
walk or feeding the cat. While we do these things, we can intentionally clear out
the complex cobwebs of our daily rushing and turn towards the divine presence
within us and around us.
A contribution from Rev Dr Timothy Nicholson
Glasshouse Country Anglican Church
Passed on by Lois Evans via Alf & Shirley Larson
(Image by Brian Rope)
St Margaret’s News
11
May 2019