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| “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 (Mississippi Headwaters Summer 2011) |
I wish I could remember who uttered the above-mentioned words, but I can’t. I know they came from Catholic radio a few months back, and that they seemed profound enough at the time to pause to record them.
Back then, I was still actively involved in a blog with an atheist (An Atheist and a Catholic). As such, I was pondering deeply and often what faith means, how one comes to it, why some people find faith and others don’t, etc. And so this jumped out loud and clear and rang so true.
We can figure out so many things simply by observing the world and coming to natural conclusions through those observations. This is absolutely possible with or without faith. BUT…God is not content to just offer us that much — the ability to discern what is good and to find order in the world (though it’s a nice start). God wants more for us than just that.
And it’s all the extra stuff — the stuff that might not be immediately visible — that allows us to tap into not just happiness but true and abiding JOY; a joy that is only conceivable when a world beyond this one is taken into account. It’s only when the big picture is available to us that we can finally and fully be at peace about what life brings us — the good and the bad of it.
At this point in time, life is throwing me a few curves. Some are personal, some relate to family. Perhaps that’s why I’m finding particular comfort in these words right now — this reality that God is not, will never be, content with us just stumbling onto a pattern and accepting a decent life if we are so blessed. No, God wants us to have life in abundance. He wants that more for us and won’t be satisfied with settling on anything less than that. Nor should we be — for ourselves or for others.
So how do we find it? How do we tap into the more?
I think — though I haven’t figured it out to perfection by any means (nor will I in this life) that we can access the more by taking time to stay still. Remember Psalm 46:10? “Be still and know that I am God.” It’s one of my favorites, and it’s one I’m needing to remember right now, on this day I’m toasting to my 43rd year of life.
Maybe that accounts for my reflective mood. Birthdays seem to lend themselves to stepping back and reflecting on where we’re at, and what our more might be, as well as how close we are to discovering it.
Connecting back to the photo of my son at the Mississippi Headwaters above and thinking on our need to be still, I found this brief video that has been used in youth ministry but is a simple (and short) reminder to all of us of how we might access our more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4e87vIRpds
Q4U: What are some of the qualities of life in abundance to you?
Very interesting that your post dovetails so nicely with the morning scripture meditation I read today, based on 1 Timothy 6:17:As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
1 Timothy 6:17 (NRSV)
So often we focus on “the work” (whatever it is), but God also wants us to ENJOY his great gift of life. A great kick-off thought to Labor Day weekend. Thanks, Roxane!
Roxane, I’ve been thrown a few curves this summer too, as you know! 🙂 I am coming to accept and understand them and find gratitude for the lessons they contained. Some unexpected events take longer to digest spiritually than others, depending on the level of pain involved. I’ll keep you in my prayers–you are a valued friend, despite the miles between us.
Jane, what a treat to have you absorb and send back a parallel Scripture passage. The word richness can convey so much. I was just talking to my Mom about how Mother Teresa felt our country is one of the poorest in the world — spiritually speaking. Our souls are bankrupt. So, we definitely have to consider the word “rich” and what it truly means. Thanks for the nice thoughts.
Rosslyn, thank you for the reminder of your own reflective times. It’s nice to have friends who have been in similar places. I know in my head we always gain from our suffering, but like you said, sometimes we bounce back easier than other times. What I’m grateful for is that we have God constantly with us when we’re ready to turn to Him and seek his guidance and love.
Roxane, I am thinking of you and saying a prayer for the curves you are being thrown. The richness of our blessings are sometimes truly revealed while bending and yielding to those very curves, although that doesn’t make going through them any easier. I love that you’ve reflected on staying still- I am taking that scripture with me today and bit of reflectiveness too.
May you find moments of peace, today, on you birthday, and in the everyday when you have so much on your mind and heart.