The Beauty of Stillness and Calm… Hello weekend readers. It’s been an interesting time this week. The main water-line for the campground broke, a controlled fire graced us with smoke, and fun things with Scouts and several other foundations working with young people at risk. Usually it can be quite hectic, but the stillness and calm was there and that does not happen very often.

I had time during the week to enjoy making LOTS of hummingbird food. As I fill the feeders they fly through the juice, or they posture before me and tap on my glasses. The sunshine brings out their incredible colors! What a gift God has given us in this tiny missile of a bird!

Then, when I finished the hummingbird feeders, I saw something on the ground that caught my eye. It made no noise, content to enjoy the time under our peach tree. It was a painted turtle which we don’t see very often here. I spoke to the turtle and of course it didn’t speak back but its eyes shone as if “thank you for the beautiful resting place, how did you know I needed this?”

I thought of the difference between this gentle quiet turtle and the constant buzzing of the hummingbirds. The turtle wasn’t rushing, not like my hectic days. I felt that God put that turtle there so I could also be calm and present in the moment, able to breathe in and out with joy because usually joy eludes be most days as I am running, helping people, etc.

Today is called National Simplicity Day. It is celebrated annually on July 12th and honors the birthday of Henry David Thoreau—author and philosopher known for his advocacy of simple living and joyful stillness. The day encourages people to reflect on the benefits of simplifying their lives, both physically and mentally. We need that don’t we? We Americans would be surprised by the miles we put on each day running here, there and everywhere and rarely slowing down. I get it, that’s me way too often.

Guess what — this stillness is definitely a challenging part of our faith! How can we be trusting God’s pace—slowing down enough to notice the beautiful things God has created for us, if we are just rushing by? If we want to experience true intimacy with God and to take in the presence of God, we must learn to quiet the clatter and enter his calm stillness.

Psalm 62:5-6 [MSG] reminds us to take a breath, be calm and still: “God the one and only—  I’ll wait as long as he says. Everything I hope for comes from him, so why not? He’s solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, an impregnable castle:   I’m set for life!”

Psalm 46:10 [Voice] is one we should memorize because in those days when we can hardly take a breath while running ourselves to the ground, we need these words from God: “Be still, be calm, see, and understand I am the True God. I am honored among all the nations. I am honored over all the earth.”

My hope for you and me is this: that this devotion helps you slow down, take a deep breath, and trust that you’re right where you need to be—even if it doesn’t feel like it. Life isn’t always about moving toward something else. Sometimes it’s about seeing that God meets you right where you are—maybe sitting by a calm turtle or finding the joy of buzzing hummingbirds! It’s God’s gift to us so use it and find the beauty in stillness and calm. AMEN