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I thought I'd share with you something we read last week, that has stayed with me since. It's from Suzanne Rhodes introduction to her book, The Roar on the Other Side. This is (some of) what she writes:
To write you must learn to be quiet. This is hard, because the world we live in is loud..... "We will make the whole universe a noise,"boasted Screwtape in C.S Lewis's classic work, The Screwtape Letters. "The melodies and silences of Heaven will be shouted down in the end."
Our creator asks us to "Be still and know that I am God"...If we cultivate the art of inner quiet and develop habits to nuture the mind's green fields, we will hear the melodies of Heaven...But stillness needs a larger room than most of us give it.
This has fed me for over a week, and I'm still contemplating it. It's truth is simple though, not only does it apply to the writing of poetry, which is really what Suzanne's book is about, but to many aspects of life. Finding, or rather purposefully providing pockets of stillness in our home school lifestyle, moments every day to dream, to think,to listen, is something I believe to be important. Who knows, maybe genius is born in that quiet half hour of unstructured, blissful nothingness. {Melanie, sweet blue sky days}
It impacted me so much that I had to share it with you.
I am learning to be quiet.
It is not easy.
This is one of the reasons I deleted my Facebook and Twitter accounts - there was too much noise.
I am learning to steal quiet moments amongst the chaos of home-schooling and life in general.
I find my soul more at rest when I am still and can hear God whisper'sweet nothings' to my heart.
I love the thought of nurturing the mind's green fields to hear the melodies of Heaven.
Still taking lessons from the King,
I love this - and it is so true! Since having my first baby, 14 weeks ago, i have truly struggled to find any time for God, quiet time, and simply just to be still...i have never known my mind to be running at such a fast pace! Your post has inspired me to take a step back and take a moment amidst the chaos that is parenting, and listen for his voice. After all, it is He who gives us our strength!
ReplyDeleteGod bless
x
Congratulations on having your first baby. How wonderful. What a journey and adventure you have in front of you.
DeleteIt is hard finding time to be still with a little one! Motherhood caused me to be creative, grabbing alone time where I could - at the clothesline, in the shower etc.
Hello, Jo.
ReplyDeleteI want you to know I'm missing you cheering up my day.
Glad your social media fast is working for you.
Thank you Jeanne!! I am keeping up with you on your blog. I haven't commented there as of late, but I am still reading.
DeleteHi Jo,
ReplyDeleteI have been becoming a bad listener these days. Your post is such a reminder for me. Thank you so much.
Me too! I needed the reminder. xo
DeleteBeing still-it is so much more than simply being alone in the quiet. Unless our minds our stilled, then we might as well be surrounded by a rambunctious crowd!
ReplyDeleteI speak from experience. Great thoughts here, Jo!
I agree! Isn't it? xo
DeleteI'm just crazy about this...not losing you on twitter so much, but I suppose I'll survive. ♥
ReplyDeleteI miss you Victoria!!!!!!!!!!! I really do. But you know that scripture, "Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial?".....yeah that about social media for me. xo
DeleteHi Jo, my name is Anne and I live in Queenslandfor some reason my Blog address is not being accepted and I tried both, since I don't know you that seems strange, so I have put my link below but if there is a problem perhaps you could explain.
ReplyDeleteI did read your About, it was interesting to compare what we had in common, like touching our nose with our tongues but as you seem to take just a bit longer then 7 days to reply, I decided not to leave a comment there but I do agree, little crawling critters don't get my vote, they may be part of the food chain and needed but I don't appreciate them thinking me or my food is their chain.
But I do appreciate your message Jo to slow down and to have God's balance in our lives, to be still before The Lord is also to Trust in Him and obey His will in all things as a Child, dependent and thankful and yes this can be at the Ekka or on a bungie jump, in other words anywhere at any time.
Thank you for sharing - Christian Love Anne.
Kingdom's Garden - http://alifeofhopeandjoy.wordpress.com/
Hi Anne,
DeleteSo nice to 'meet' you and thank you for your comment. I have absolutely no idea why your blog addresses didn't work. Sometimes Blogger plays up. I apologise that you had problems.
Yes, I do take a little bit longer sometimes than 7 days to reply. This is because my family is my first priority. I did go through a season where blogging, Facebook and Twitter consumed most of my time and that wasn't healthy for me or my family.
Ha! We can both touch our nose with our tounge. *smile* And cockroaches - yuck! I agree, we can be still and hear His voice anywhere, at any time.
Hi Jo I thought I would let you know why I had trouble commenting it seems I needed to have an account they wouldn't accept my WordPess Bog so I started one today, I have other Blogs but my main Blog is Freedomborn and Kingdom's Garden, but I will try again.
ReplyDeleteYour very wise to have God's balance Jo, I posted a very good message about this that someone sent me a few years ago, I will do so again on my new Blog in a day or two.
Christian Love.
Love this post Jo... and like Michelle said above, I'm learning the art of being "still" in the midst of all the craziness of motherhood - when I am lucky to find myself alone, even on the toilet these days!! ;)
ReplyDeleteAs usual, beautiful wisdom xx
Thanks Em! I do know what you mean ;)
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