FINDING TIME TO BE STILL

Every term holidays, I book myself a weekend stay at a tiny house.

The first time I went to a tiny house, it was at the recommendation of a friend who had purposefully chosen to holiday by herself and I was so intrigued by the idea that I decided I simply must give it a try.

My first night there, I found everything wonderfully novel: the three feet of space between the sleeping area and the kitchen, the ‘dining room’ that was more of a suggestion than an actual physical space, the tiny kettle that I would put on the tiny stove – the list of tiny things to find delight in were endless.

But what actually struck me the most – and what kept me coming back time and again - was what lay outside the four walls of the small structure. As far as the eye could see was wild and untamed nature. Trees that stood tall and mighty, their leaves catching and dappling the fading light of the sun. The chilling breeze which carries with it not only the sounds of bird calls, but a freshness that renewed and fortified. Without the distraction of technology, the internet or other stuff, I had the opportunity to stop and absorb. Despite the various sights, tastes and smells that filled my senses, I found that my mind became calm and I finally had a moment to be still.

Now, whenever the term is gearing up to finish, I look forward to my holiday when I can wake up with the sunrise and later, eat dinner on the grass and watch the sun set. I look forward to that feeling of contentment, the happiness to simply watch the natural world around me and be still.

It’s easy during times like this for me to recall verses like “Be still and know that I am God” and truly know what that feels like. When stillness and peace are close at hand, it is easy to feel near to God because we can see and experience the good things that He has provided for us.

And yet, God is still God even when the craziness of life or the school term abound. He is still God when we feel that stillness and peace are far away. At times like these, it is important to remember, like the psalmist, that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in times of trouble”. In our busyness, let us find a time to be still and know that God is always with us - that He is always God.