"Be still and acknowledge that I am God"
(Psalm 46:10).
These are words to take with us
in our busy lives.
We may think about stillness
in contrast to our noisy world.
But perhaps we can go further
and keep an inner stillness
even while we carry on business,
teach, work in construction,
make music, or organise meetings.
It is important to keep a still place
in the "marketplace."
This still place
is where God can dwell
and speak to us.
It also is the place from where
we can speak in a healing way
to all the people we meet in our busy days.
Without that still space we start spinning.
We become driven people, running all over the place
without much direction.
But with that stillness
God can be our gentle guide
in everything we think, say, or do.
Henri Nouwen
This was a street side market
in Kampala, Uganda
November 2007
colours bright, voices loud
all seemed a bit chaotic
and I thought
but Lord, you've transformed me
from urban
to a quiet country girl
would you then place me back
in the crowds?
I am unsure
of what Malawi
will bring
but find hope, peace
and challenge
in Henri's words
to learn to carry
the stillness
with me
in me, always
in the still place with
Sandy
