It always happens. It's funny how easily it slips in though, slowly, circling around. Stillness. Quiet.
Two wonderfully lovely things that I welcome with open arms especially on those days of chaos and confusion. They came sooner than they usually do, unpacking their bags and settling in without my noticing at first. Mainly because there visit was oh so perfect, it came at just the right time, after three weeks of running without a break.
But now those weeks are over. And Stillness and Quiet are still here.
And I panic a little because I don't know how to entertain these guests. They request that I sit, that I stop, that I slow down.
"But how?", I ask. I don't think I even remember what it's like to be stationary.
I know I long for them in the craziness of life. Just the way you long for those long, hot summer days when you're bundled up shivering in the cold. But once they get here and you've embraced, you wriggle away, because they keep holding on. And you don't know what to do. Or at least I don't know what to do.
Voices vie for my attention, and I'm amazed because they were once just another voice in the crowd of my head on those busy days. But now, they come to the front of the line because the rush is over, and they try to sell me their "product".
Lots of good. I don't deny, there are so many good "products", things I've always wanted to do but never had the time to. Then there's that pesty little solicitor, Mr. Obligation. He knows just what to say, he's been trained over time, and he knows I'm a sucker for everything he has to sell. All of his "ought-tos", "should-dos", "must-dos". He gets me everytime.
You'd think I would have learned by now. I mean, I have an entire cupboard full of magic blenders, super vacuums, miracle cleaners, and nifty tupperware.
Yet, here I go again. He walks up, opens his suitcase, and I politely ask, "What do you have today Mr. Obligation?". And boy oh boy, isn't he excited to pile it on. I mean, I must have the "Most Loyal Customer" status already, can't get much better than that!
Mr. Obligation is why I've been fighting with Stillness and Quiet all week. I'm afraid. Because I know once the crowd clears, Mr. O is always waiting, and I still don't know how to face him. I'm learning, I know. But I'm still just a student.
So here I am. Mr. O on one side and S and Q on the other. A familiar illustration huh?
I wanna choose to vacation with S and Q, instead of get tied down to another useless appliance that Mr. O is going to try and sell me. It's not going to be easy, I know because I've done it before.
I just pray for resilience, because as I choose the Quiet and the Stillness, I always have a Friend waiting for me there. One that never leaves, never hides, never heaps on useless "oughts", "shoulds" and "musts". One that invites me to sit down and talk, to pour out my heart and everything in it, without regard of judgement. One that cheers me to sing and dance with Him, to soak up all that He has graciously poured out on me. Oh what a Friend.
My prayer this week is for you and I both to allow Stillness and Quiet to unpack. And not just that, let them take the guest room, go crazy if you want to, tell them to put their belongings in the drawers and not just keep them in their suitcases.
Why? Because I promise you, they bring along a Friend. And my dears, He is the sweetest of them all, and you don't want to miss a chance to be with Him.
