Be Still Oh My Soul

Looking out of the window, I thought of these words, Be Still Oh My Soul. How often do we want to just be doing nothing --with a list a mile long, yet the wisdom in it.

I was born in a small town, which is more like a small city now, and live on the outskirts.  City-like with it's traffic lights and structural development, it even has it's own hospital, cancer center, YMCA, fire and police, fully staffed, large library, and an abundance of churches. I guess you could say we have it all in many ways. It is not like the neighboring towns that surround us, in fact they have been utilizing our commodities for as long as I can remember. We have a beautiful golf course, and our own airport.

One might think this the ideal place to live, not like in a smaller town, where many have to rely on their own septic systems and wells for water. Luckily, in this area, we have an abundance of resources. What's lacking here, is employment, like many towns established in the early 1800's.

Having been exposed to the mid-west with the threat of tornadoes constantly, and the east and west coast cities, I find where I am to be a blessing. I didn't feel that way when I was younger. Then, I thought that there was nothing for us to do, except chores. Coming back this way, I fell in love with the environment, clean and green, and grew a new appreciation for my birthplace. A place of hills and valleys, just like life. We are surrounded by lakes,  and water resources in natural settings having many varieties of birds, and wildlife.

It is so quiet here right now that one would have to invent noise, which is not the case in most cities. Yet, people get used to their surrounding sounds and accept the punishing pace as natural and unassuming. They probably do not know what it means to be "still" and just quiet, the way a baby looks when it sleeps. It's crazy to live life on a rail. And sadly, most people do not even realize their pace.

Today I've taken the time to observe stillness. The stillness outside the darkened sky, where nothing absolutely nothing is moving, because there is no wind. Nature has taken the time to take it all in. Perhaps, waiting for the nourishing rainfall, we all need to be refreshed, in a like manner. There is a time for resting, even though for many, life goes on by the calendar of scheduled events. We become frazzled and anxious--and as well, sick. Realization for some, comes too late.

Let us take a lesson from nature, and in our stillness just breathe. Be showered with the luxury of rest. Chew your food before you swallow it, and open your eyes to the beauty in your midst. Finally, Spring is here, and in this valley, beauty everywhere has begun. Drink in the stillness--it won't always be this way, for nothing lasts forever.