On stillness

I have trouble being still. I fidget, bounce my leg up and down while sitting and generally have to be doing something. I can't even begin to count how many times as a child during church my Papa would clear his throat - the non-verbal way of saying "cut it out."

To this day, if someone clears their throat in a room, I automatically withdraw into myself and wonder what I'm doing wrong. Reflex.

I am now at my parents' house in Virginia for the week. The Lodge as D. and I affectionately call it. And for some reason, I find it very easy to be still here.

Maybe it's a geographical thing. The Lodge sits off the main road almost a mile and then off the street about a quarter of a mile. Sitting on my bed right now I can hear no traffic. No cars, no sirens, no horns. Somewhere in the distance is a train but it doesn't disturb the quiet.

I laid in bed last night just listening. My condo in Birmingham is on a busy street backed up by a busy highway. The buzz of traffic is constant. But here, there is none of that. Just quiet.

Maybe it's because God knows I need to be still and gives me the opportunity to do that. Maybe all He wants from me is to just be present and embrace the quiet so that I can hear Him.

In Isaiah 30:15, Isaiah wrote "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength."

I pray that all of you have moments of rest and quiet during this week to be thankful, to repent, to grow stronger and to hear God in the midst of your life.

Be still. It's worth it.