A Lesson in Stillness From a Camel …Hello Hump Day readers. Of course I’m sharing about Camels from the perspective of Amanda Vohs. I asked if I could share some of her story and she said yes and I think at this time of the year it is just the right devotion…here goes:

As a working mom in the human rights field, I often feel the pressure to be and do more. The weight of injustice and the desire to make a meaningful impact can feel overwhelming and especially true in the fight against human trafficking/modern-day slavery—where the work is heavy, holy, and impossible to accomplish in our own strength. In Kenya with International Justice Mission, I heard Mwanaidi’s story. She was a vibrant 13-year-old whose neighbor began offering her snacks on her way home from school. At first, the gestures seemed innocent but they weren’t. This man betrayed her trust and abused her, threatened her that if she told anyone, he would kill her family. Terrified, she stopped going to school to avoid him. When the truth came out, Mwanaidi’s family reported the crime despite pressure from the perpetrator’s family. The man who assaulted her received 12 years in prison. Today, Mwanaidi has healed and she plans to study dressmaking and start a wedding dress business. She says “I am not defined by my past.” Her story ends with justice. But many cases like these take years and then the person feels hopeless—the burden is far too heavy for anyone to carry on their own.

…and we were never meant to as well. Remember these words from Micah 6:8 [ERV] “Human, the Lord has told you what goodness is. This is what he wants from you: Be fair to other people. Love kindness and loyalty, and humbly obey your God.” Nothing more. For Amanda that changed her life to be able to do the work she does. She told me “A colleague shared an image that has stayed with me—the image of a Camel! For centuries, traders have relied on Camels to carry heavy loads over long distances. Each morning, the Camel bows before its master to receive its load. It then stands strong and carries what it’s been given. At day’s end, it bows again before its master to unload the goods so it can rest. The Camel carries only what its master gives–no more–no less, and leaves everything at its master’s feet each evening.”  

Friends, this is where the practice of stillness comes in. It can orient your days, and therefore your life! Throughout the ages, the wise teacher would remind the people that the practice of stillness is a life-saving grace. The problem for most of us is we can’t shut out the noise. TV, computers, cell phones, and so much more—they grab our ears like a loudspeaker. And we easily listen or follow the noise without knowing why! One psychiatrist put it this way: ‘We are tuned in but we’ve lost the ability to ‘tune out’. Yikes!

What happens if we decide to shut out the noise and listen to God instead? As a writer that is one thing I have learned because if I don’t, I can’t write. Shutting out the noise reminds me that God is first and God goes before us. If we shut out the noise and listen we can reflect, we can discern between the work that is ours to carry and the burdens we can humbly give to God to carry. I don’t know about you, but my load can be hard to carry. Giving that up to God and letting God guide me is precious and that is what the practice of stillness is all about. Wherever you are, pause–close your eyes–breathe deeply and reflect on this prayer from Amanda: “Lord, help me walk humbly with You, trusting that I am your beloved. Teach me to release the burdens I was never meant to carry alone and to find strength in your presence to carry Christ’s light to the darkest corners of our world.”

We CAN do this my friends, but only with God’s wisdom and maybe a few camels! Amen.