Be Still

A long time ago, back when I was bishop, I was praying to know what I should teach my ward on an upcoming fifth Sunday. I was concerned that I hadn't really received any inspiration, and I needed to get ready. Then one night at about 3 am, I woke up, and the entire lesson plan was laid out in my brain perfectly. I knew exactly what I was going to teach and how. I quickly prayed to thank my Father in Heaven for answering my prayers, but I also included a question that went something along the lines of "Thank you, but couldn't I have received this inspiration when I was awake?" As soon as I had said this, the thought hit me like a ton of bricks, "No, I couldn't because you are too busy to listen to me during the day."

I wish I could say that I have learned from that. Sometimes I do really well, and sometimes I completely forget. Lately I've been pondering on this concept again and again. The Lord repeatedly requests, in some form or another, that we need to "be still". Often we talk about that commandment in terms of trusting the Lord--not stressing about His promises being fulfilled, but I think it means something different. I think it is literally God telling us(me!) to slow down, be quiet and have a chance to listen.

My life is full of noise. I listen to the radio whenever I drive; I have five kids; I run from one thing to another. I am a loud person. Sue often accuses me of just making noise to make noise. I've even confessed to reading internet comments because apparently I need more noise and contention in my life.

It is so easy to get caught up in the need to be active, to be anxiously engaged, to be doing something, that we sometimes forget that there is power in being still. The power to re-center ourselves, the power to relax and let our minds and bodies rest, the power to focus.

I don't think it is an accident that the Spirit is referred to as a "still, small voice". How can we hear a still voice if we aren't still ourselves? How can we hear a whisper if we surround ourselves with shouting? I don't think it's an accident that I often get inspiration in the shower (TMI, I know), but it is one of the few places where I am not connected to something else, and when I remove myself from distractions and electronics, my mind, heart, and spirit automatically begin to connect to something higher, something quieter, and something much more profound.

So, I have a goal. I am going to work to be still. To remove distractions from my life, and just let myself have a moment of peace, which will then allow a power to enter in and give me what I need to deal with the noise that will inevitably return. And what better day to "be still" then on the day the Lord asked us to rest?