This week Charles White put out his “Pondering Thoughts and Observations”.  I always read and enjoy what Charles has to say. The one for this week was on being still.  Charles pointed out that we are never still since the earth and the universe are in motion all the times.  But there is another way to be still.  We can still our minds and thoughts and let God in.  

I recall doing meditation and stilling my heart and mind.  It is a way of getting rid of the anxiety and turmoil that is often in our lives.  Just to sit quietly and to let God enter. We had sermons on taking time for God and sitting in a quiet place just last summer. Pastor Don would sit in a beach chair and relax for a few minutes at the end of the sermon. I bid on the beach chair and now have it sitting in my garage waiting for warm weather.  We seem to never have the time to be still, the phone rings, someone always needs something the minute we sit down. To just sit and be still is a luxury that we don’t seem to be able to manage.  When I was working and arrived home, I often would request 10 minutes with no questions or demands.  My children were good about this and did give me space.  It wasn’t that I didn’t care about their problems but that I had just had a bad day and like life, timing is everything. After 10 minutes I was able to step back from Nurse into the Mom role.  Now I am out of the house 2 ½ days a week and when I walk in the door I am greeted with a report from the Caregiver and questions galore.  I am going to have to go back to my 10-minute escape plan before I again pick up my role as caregiver.  I need time for silence, time to be still, time to let God speak, time to reflect on my blessings, and time for gratitude.

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.

Psalm 37:5-7a Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:  He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.

Lord, thank you for our blessings.  May we remember them when chaos seems the norm.  Be with those who are ill, those who are facing life altering decisions, those who grieve.  Be with our youth and teens, may they find they can rely on you always.  Be with those who enter our church as strangers, may they become friends.  Be with our Pastor and his family, be with our staff and leaders. Be with our country Lord, may we be united as one.  In Jesus name, Amen

Grace Epperson