“Be Still”

“Be Still!”

What mom hasn’t uttered these words to a child before? But the stillness of an antsy child is not my intention as I write this.

Be Still.

My family and I recently completed an almost 2 week road trip together. You learn a lot about each other when traveling almost 3,000 miles together in a minivan! This is not our first family road trip, but on this adventure I was reminded of how we are all innately different in how we view downtime or stillness.

I tend to have the mentality that we are at this place (wherever that might be for the day) and we are going to experience it to the fullest! I mean, we may have paid good money to be here, it may be somewhere we would never likely be again, etc. But I was reminded that others’ needs for downtime may come at a point different from my own. 

The ability to find personal quiet time and stillness is difficult to find in a van  packed with people and belongings, or in a filled hotel room for the night. There were times when I may have been frustrated when others didn’t see things the same way I did; however, then I was reminded of this powerful idea that Jesus taught and modeled, “stillness”. We all have that point where stillness is valued and respected. Jesus was still- He was still when He prayed to His Father in John 17, among other places. Mark 4 is just one account of Jesus taking time for physical rest after being heavily involved in ministry opportunities. Jesus was still.

I challenge myself, and you, if you find it helpful, to “be still and know that He is God”(Psalm 46:10). Take time alone with the Lord and His word- even amid the deadlines and opportunities which your planner reminds you of on a daily basis. Show grace to others who are in need of stillness. Maybe it is a Mary vs. Martha reminder- we need balance. A line from an older hymn encourages us to “Be calm in thy soul…”

I pray this week we can find balance- serve and love; even as we take time to Be Still.

Kristi Burleson, Henderson, TN

kburleson@fhu.edu