Still, Still, Still

Living life in a community of ten, there’s always something going on: a conversation to join, a dish to be cleaned, a show to be watched, an adventure to be had. I’m seldom alone and rarely idle. The one constant of life at the Casa is activity. 

However, with the dawning of winter, I’ve found myself more and more embracing stillness. The February air, even when blown up by the wind, contains a restful chill that forces me to pause and breathe. The snow that has come to cover DC slows my movements; it forces my steps to be intentional and my thoughts to be in the moment.  

For those of us who have dedicated ourselves to service, stillness can be uncomfortable. Despite attempts to be present, we often find ourselves constantly thinking about the next thing that we can do to help. We have heard the divine calling to give our lives to others, and surely the best way to answer this call is to get up, go, and not stop. Yet, we cannot expect to sustain this perpetual motion; our vocations to self-gift also beckon us to give ourselves in stillness to the mystery of God.   

In this past Christmas season, I found myself drawn to the carol, “Still, Still, Still.” Though not a typical mainstay of my holiday season, this song called to me in a way I did not know I needed. Its melodic lullaby proclaims “For by His holy Incarnation/Christ is born for our salvation,” a simple yet profound summary of the Christian faith. Yes, we are called to a life of active service, loving God through what we do. However, we have also been called to embrace stillness. For it is into this stillness that God himself was made manifest and through this stillness that he embraces us today, nourishing, strengthening, and loving us for the journey ahead. 

“Be still and know that I am God.” 

Question for Reflection: When can you take a moment to embrace stillness this week?