Tag: be still

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A timely reminder

My morning got off to a rather rocky start, so I really appreciated the reminder that appeared on my Momentum Dash screen once I reached the office.

Be still.

I don’t know about you, but when I read those words I automatically take a deep breath.

And then my mind adds the rest of the phrase…

Be still and know that I am God.

…and something shifts. Another deep breath and I’m ready to put it all in His hands.

Tonight was the first time I looked it up and learned that this phrase comes from Psalm 46. The whole thing is beautiful.

Psalm 46 
1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

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Be still, my soul, and steadfast

THE GIFT
Be still, my soul, and steadfast.
Earth and heaven both are still watching
though time is draining from the clock
and your walk, that was confident and quick,
has become slow.

So, be slow if you must, but let
the heart still play its true part.
Love still as once you loved, deeply
and without patience. Let God and the world
know you are grateful.
That the gift has been given.
–Mary Oliver

I know it’s kind of random, but I felt to share this poem tonight. No special reason; I simply love Mary Oliver and this really spoke to me.

Earth and heaven both are still watching…

And I am indeed grateful…
That the gift has been given.

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Priming the pump

Still not feeling truly inspired to write about anything, but couldn’t bear to give in to yet another day of the “dry spell.”

So I started scrolling through Facebook looking for ideas and loved this photo and quote. Plus it reminds me of one of my favorite scriptures: Be still and know that I am God.

Good thoughts to ponder on when when inspiration is lacking.

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Be still

Getting to “fall back” an hour can be a big help for people like me, for whom “early to bed and early to rise” is an ongoing struggle. Thanks to the time change I made it to the Temple of Light to meditate this morning (true, it was after group sadhana, but it’s a start)!

It’s such a blessing to meditate in the Temple, but — even so — I could tell that feelings of anxiety and restlessness had a grip on me. Sometimes when that happens, doing my specific “practices” can feel like a chore, something to be resisted rather than embraced. So instead of practicing “techniques” I started an inner dialogue: “Be still. Be still. Be still. Breathe. Be still….”

After a while I realized “Be still” was directed to my body and I inwardly added: “Be calm” for my mind. “Be calm. Be calm. Be still. Be calm…” And finally…

RELAX.

That’s for my heart. I remember being in Assisi and hearing Swamiji say to a friend: “Relax in your heart.” It was a new concept to me and I’ve always remembered him saying it. But I haven’t been very consistent about doing it and lately I’ve been feeling an increasing tightness there. So, “Relax in the heart. Relax in the heart. Be still. Be calm. Relax in the heart…”

Afterwards I suddenly recalled a beautiful experience from years and years ago. I was attending a Unity church in San Francisco, and one of the ministers (Troy Wheeler; I still remember his name!) did something different for his sermon. First he asked us to close our eyes and then he shared the following scripture, repeating each phrase several times, with gradually increasing pauses in between.

Be still and know that I am God…
Be still and know that I am…
Be still and know…
Be still…
Be…

I think that might have been one of my first experiences of true stillness; it was truly peaceful and I’ve never forgotten it.

By the way, I did manage to get still and calm and relaxed enough so I could also practice my techniques this morning! 🙂