When You Need To Find Some Stillness 🌟
When You Need to Find Some Stillness
The run up to Christmas can feel full of hurry and clutter. The pressure of expectations can seem overwhelming and life seems to demand more and more just as we feel at our most weary.
In this atmosphere, stillness is an act of resistance. It offers us the invitation to declutter our souls, come home to ourselves and find our true north, our guiding star that leads us back to worship.
If, like me, you’re in need of some stillness just about now, why not read through this short reflection, and let’s find a moment of calm together.
Be still and know that I am God.
Inhale and the word itself becomes the next exhale. Still. In that moment, there is a pause before the next breath. There is time for letting go as lungs, mind and hands empty. There is no need to hurry away. Gently uncurl your fingers as a reminder of the things you are releasing into God’s loving care. Inhale. Exhale. Let go.
Be still and know.
In the stillness, illusions float to the surface of our minds, like dead leaves on a pond that need to be skimmed off and cleared away. Sometimes we shy away from this process, fearing the moment when we must come face to face with our tangled web of thoughts and feelings. It can be painful, but at the end, what remains is the clear water offering a true reflection of ourselves. You are the beloved child of God and this is your truest self. All else is a mirage, smoke and mirrors that fade away. Spend a few minutes in the stillness and hear the voice of God whisper: you are loved, you are loved, you are loved.
Be still.
Stillness invites us back to our centre, where we don’t have to hustle for our self-worth. As we cease our activity, for just a few moments, grasping and striving are laid aside. You don’t have to be better or do more. You are enough, just as you are.
Close your eyes, and notice your own breath, the stillness of your body, the quietness and serenity that come from rest. Notice the silence that often accompanies stillness. Notice your own heartbeat. Notice the presence of Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us, constant and steady.
Be present in this moment,
Be yourself,
Dearly beloved,
Be.
The Be Still prayer comes from Richard Rohr. You can read more about it here.
You can read my Advent series here: