Stillness in the Simple

Perhaps you can identify with this problem. The annoyance of waking up before your alarm goes off. As I stare at the ceiling, I wonder why I bother with the alarm. My frustration is not with the early rising, but that my mind is already in motion. My thoughts begin to churn over my to-do list, I start rehash a conversation with a friend, or angst begins over an upcoming project. My mind is off to the races. I am busy, and my feet have not even touched the floor! This state of mental busyness typically sticks with me the whole day, feeding the next early waking and the one after that, and well, you get the picture. It is a self-perpetuating cycle that works its way into my spiritual life as it begins to fill my prayer time with the same feelings of worry, angst, and busyness. My default solution to solve this problem? Physical busyness.

The more miles I can run, the more projects I can work on, the more cleaning, the more going, the more doing equals less thinking time. Physical activity also provides an excellent outlet for the pent-up anxiety caused by stirring thoughts. This approach does have some benefits. There are health boosts and a clean house. Additionally, I have received beautiful moments of clarity while out for a run, and somehow scrubbing floors can help put my worries into perspective. There is comfort in the rhythm of the repetitive action of exercising or cleaning. In the cadence, my mind can rest. The problem lies in the more. I allow all the movement to hinder my ability to listen for God to speak into my heart. My mental fatigue, compounded by physical tiredness, prevents me from giving my attention to God and my spiritual life. There has to be a better option, and fortunately, God provides the answer.

Despite my best efforts to keep busy, God still finds a way to speak to me. One morning during prayer, He placed these beautiful words from Exodus (14:14) in my heart, “The Lord himself will fight for you; you have only to keep still.” Stillness. Up to this point, I felt like I was pretty good at being still. I love the quiet and stillness of Mass and Eucharistic Adoration. Yet, God persisted. Later, His call to stillness spoke through Isiah (301:15b), “By waiting and by calm, you shall be saved, in quiet and in trust your strength lies.” It became clear that God was calling me to spend time exploring the concept of stillness with Him. What did He reveal? I am excellent at being still, mentally, physically, and spiritually when I am in His presence, but I fail to bring that stillness with me when I leave the Adoration Chapel or Mass. When out in the world, I let the stirring, the fear, and the worry kick my mind, body, and spirit into overdrive. Jesus had an invitation for me to deepen my relationship with Him. A call to remember I am always in His presence. 

For many, the easiest way to remember we are always in the presence of God is to pray. St. Paul writes in his first letter to the Thessalonians (5:16-17), “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.” This passage provided excellent counsel, and I was ready to answer the call. My mind instantly began making a prayer schedule. I filled my day with beautiful and meaningful prayers. This commitment to prayer is noble and good, but I began to question: does the “doing” accomplish what Jesus was asking of me? I turned a call to be with Him into a to-do list! Sometimes in our efforts to solve a problem, we can complicate the situation by overplanning and adding intricate steps. I certainly outdid myself in this instance. Jesus did not ask me to manage our relationship but to be present to Him. It was time for me to take a moment and breathe.

Breathing. According to The Lung Association, the average human being takes in 22,000 breaths a day. What if we tied prayer and being in His presence to our breath? In those occasions of fear, worry, gratitude, or joy – stop, take a breath, and invite Him to be a part of the experience. By connecting our breath and prayer, we can breathe Him into our souls. We can welcome in the calm, stillness, and love that only Christ can provide. We can share our life with Him. It is an opportunity to answer the call to deepen our relationship with Jesus. Willing to give it a try? Sit with me and listen to the song Breathe by Hillsong Worship. Take the time to be still, to be in His presence – mentally, physically, spiritually. In the stillness, God provides truth, perspective, and clarity without exhaustion. When I take the opportunity to be in His presence in this manner, my eyes gently close; I can shut out the noise of the world and more fully answer His call for intimacy. 

Healthline states the average human being blinks 14,400-19,200 times per day. In those instances of restlessness, what if we closed our eyes, just a millisecond longer than it takes to blink, and asked Jesus to remind us who we are to Him? To let Him speak the truth. To remind us that we belong to Him. We are His beloved daughters and sons, chosen, forgiven, and precious. Close your eyes and breathe. 

The beauty of this approach to praying is it can be done anywhere – without ceasing. At work, washing dishes, stuck in traffic, or out for a walk. The few seconds it takes to breathe and close our eyes, we can quickly be in Jesus’ presence. In these simple, natural, and rhythmic actions – He is present in your heart. When I make this quiet, humble connection with Christ, a smile spreads across my lips; stillness sweeps over my mind. In His presence, a brief glimpse of Heaven bursts into my soul. He is with me, and more importantly, I am with Him. In the hush of those early morning risings and throughout my day, I will trust that Jesus is there waiting for me. He is eagerly awaiting my acceptance of His invitation to be with Him. May my response always be yes. Will you accept the invitation?