Before all of this, did our constant pursuit of activities make us better people? Did the busy scrambling make us better disciples of Jesus? Have we been pursuing busyness for merely the sake of feeling some fleeting sense of control or accomplishment?
The other night, we had a campfire. We watched the flames dance, listened to the wood crack and pop. We watched the wind blow the smoke around. We sat mostly in silence. Nothing needed to be said. In those moments, I experienced a greater sense of peace and contentment than I had in a long while. I just breathed the fresh air. I merely sat there enjoying the moment. My soul drank in the stillness.
“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken… For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.” (Psalm 62:1–2; 5).
I am concerned that if we return to what is “normal” we will have forgotten the lessons we learned in the stillness. Will we go back to our soul-deadening ways? Will we attempt to return to a busyness as normal? Will we jump back on the treadmill, pursuing the rat-race of more and more? Will we continue to starve our souls to numb the sense of loss, hurt, failure and emptiness inside?
“…but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.” (1 Kings 19:11b–12)
Lord, I want to be where you are. We look for you in the storms. We look for you in what cracks and splinters our world. We wonder if you are veiled in the flashy flames and smoke. But I see now, You are in the quiet whisper. I want to quietly approach your still place where my soul can be at rest in You. I want to sit down and rest alongside you near the river. I want to create margin in my life for soul-searching. I want to remove things to create space for my soul to grow. I just want to be in your presence.