“Be still, and know that I am God…” Psalms 46:10

Americans seem to have great difficulty being still. We are a nation of doers, always going, always working, playing, creating, supporting…doing. When we come to a point when we are required to be still, we tend to fidget and fret. There is so much to do, so much to see; we should be moving, not sitting still!

However, it is in stillness that we are able to communicate with the Divine. It is when we finally reach that state where motion stops and our frantic thoughts grow quiet that we open ourselves up to profound insights. Wisdom is found in tranquility.

Perhaps it is a fear of being alone with ourselves that keeps us from being still. When there is nothing to distract us, we may find that we have to face aspects of ourselves that make us uncomfortable. But what greater gift can you give yourself than to truly come to know and understand who you are? It is that discovery of self that helps us grow, become stronger, calmer, and more in tune with what life is really all about.

So, the next time I find myself forced to sit and wait, thinking, “I should be doing something!” I will try to silence my chaotic mind and accept the opportunity for stillness as a gift. I will sit; I will listen, and perhaps I will learn something that will help me become just a bit wiser.