"Cease Striving And Know/
That I Am God /
I will be exalted among the nations /
I will be exalted in the earth."
The seeds we sow daily take root and sprout -- we choose the ground on which we plant our cares, our needs, our desires, our attention, our time, our money, our love, our disdain, our best efforts, our worst, our anger, our happiness. We compose a song with way too many notes; a melody that never lets up, even for a quick breath. Taking time out surely means we are lazy - we beat ourselves up if we have accomplished something at the end of the day. We accuse ourselves of being lazy, unfocused, unmotivated, never reaching the bar we set for ourselves. We can list a hundred personal heroes that have been a hundred times more successful by the time they were our age. We want to do more, but the kids wear us out, the job takes our energy, the feeble attempts at exercise amount to little, our breath is still short, we still need to sit and rest. Self-pity sours into self-resentment. Oh me, 'who will deliver me from this body of death?'
Our Father, through the Psalm, reminds us who he is, and what we need to take time each day to be doing. Silence! For Once! Just BE before God! Focus in silence! Bring your cares without saying a word! Where are we right now - whose world have we chose to exist within today? No new programs, no new books, no new lessons, no new resolutions, no new sermons, no new lectures, no new classes!!! These things belong on a much less important shelf- "Be Still, and Know/ That I Am God / I will be exalted among the nations / I will be exalted in all the earth."
Lord, may I cease striving before you and learn first to listen for your still, small voice...I have spoken of things which I know not, I repent in dust and ashes...teach me to be still in your presence...have mercy on me, a sinner. Give me your peace that passes understanding - may I pray in silence before your throne. Amen.
