The Art of Practicing Stillness

The summer solstice is the meteorlogical arrival of summer, though most of us welcomed summer temperatures a few weeks ago. School is out, vacation plans set and the shift to more relaxed schedules acomplished. Hearing colleagues mention their joy in casual family schedules seems immediately eclipsed by their litany of activites for the children, household projects and scores of get-togethers. The art of practicing stillness, appears a truly lost art in the rush of filling newly opened schedules with summer endeavors.

Welcome to Mindfulness Monday! Where we learn some easy ways to be more present “in the moment” at our jobs, in our homes, with our families and friends.

Learning to recognize God and what He has for us in each divine moment He offers. We acknowledge the belief that God is with us always.

We confess His presence is available to us, lifting our spirit and helping us with power and grace. Learning the art of “stillness” so we can hear His voice and view ourselves, others and our surroundings through His eyes.

the lost art of stillness

With the hectic schedules most people keep three-quarters of the year, I wonder at the propensity to fill the summer calendar with activities. Are we so addicted to busyness we fear an empty calendar?

Some of my fondest childhood summer memories contain stillness. I vividly remember laying in the soft, cool grass on a dazzling sunny afternoon watching the clouds with some friends. Finding pictures in the clouds, watching the bees or sitting in the shade of a tree telling stories. Certainly we swam, rode bikes, fished, hiked and played handball, but stillness played a huge role in our days.

As the parent of children at home, we enjoyed reading times, picnics in the backyard, walks and picking fruit in a local orchard. Sharing these memories horrifed my colleagues; their children expected entertainment, while the parents wanted zero drama. The art of practicing stillness landing as a foreign concept to them, relegated to the “olden days”.

finding stillness again

As an empty nester, one season can flow into the next. Recently realizing nothing much changed in my regular routine with the change in season along with a terrible allergy attack keeping me indoors, a disoriented frame of mind took hold.

Much like driving in fog; unclear road boundaries, limited visibility and a dizzing disorientation of where you actually are on the road. Yet forging ahead, I kept moving and doing; until dreadfully losing my way.

Seeking God for help, yet woefully remaining perplexed, stuck in a perpetual cycle of doing. Like a game of hide and seek, looking for the hidden cog necessary for everything to run smoothly again. Enveloped in busyness, doing rather than being, led me to a place of spiritual and physical exhaustion. Seeking, asking, but not listening; until one moment God whispered “Peace, be still”.

unexpected stillness

The art of practicing stillness, slipping from my conscious endeavors, offered the balm my weary soul desperately needed. Regrettably, failing the recognition of the keen remedy to my problem, I continued searching for more “action steps” for solving my problem.

Ironically, I chose sitting outside one cool evening in an effort to think through options, when the beauty of the evening, distant bird songs and a cool breeze arrested my attention. Closing my eyes to breathe more of it in, a profound peace and calmness pervaded my whole being. The intoxication of it kept me still and quiet for a long time.

As I ended my time with an empty sheet of paper and moved indoors, savoring the feast my senses enjoyed moments earlier, the Lord tenderly enlightened me. Rather than abiding in Him (John 15:4-5) especially seeking times of stillness, my pursuits involved more “doing”.

practicing stillness

Certainly abiding in Christ implies a settled trust in His sovereign control and purposes, resulting in fruit-filled actions. At other times, abiding holds the same trust in Christ’s sovereignty and control, but plays out in stillness.

Losing my way, opened my eyes to a shift in my perspective from implicit abiding, to relentless action compelled by performance. Focusing on my responsibility for all outcomes moved me from abiding to controlling which almost always involves excessive “activity”.

the art of practicing stillness

Energized by the unexpected delight of my impromptu outing, continuing pursuits of stillness on subsequent evenings and mornings showered me with refreshment. Feeding my soul through conversations with the Lord, fostered the idea of breathing through the Psalms.

Practicing mindfulness in this way, not only shifts my perspective from self-sufficiency to God-dependency, but nourishes my soul with the living Word of God. Try this easy mindfulness meditation using Psalm 46:10 for practicing the art of stillness.

be still

As with all mindfulness practices, making a calm transition from the atmosphere of busyness and activity to the atmosphere of stillness enhances the practice. Without a transition, your brain and central nervous system remain on the continuum of activity. I highly recommend a five minute Mindful Check In for making a smooth transition. It’s a simple, easy, delightful way for beginning any mindfulness technique; full instructions HERE.

Find quiet spot with minimal opportunity for interruption; ensure your comfort, and start with the Mindful Check In. Maintain mindful breathing; keep your exhale longer than your inhale. For example, inhale for a count of four, exhale slowly for a count of eight.

Psalm 46:10a

• Either outloud or silently to yourself, pray “Be still and know that I am God.”
• Take one or two slow, even breaths. Pray, “Be still and know that I am.”
• Take one or two slow, even breaths, Pray, “Be still and know.”
• Continuing with one or two slow, even breaths, Pray, “Be still.”
• Continuing with one or two slow, even breaths, Pray, “Be.”
• Inhale deeply, exhaling through your mouth. Pray “Amen”

restorative stillness

Though counter-intuitive for an over-achiever like me, “doing nothing” literally transformed my perspective, as well as my physical and spiritual well-being. Contrary to our media-rich, performance driven society, the art of practicing stillness builds margin into our days resulting in more productivity.

Most precious of all, it affords us the pleasure of communing with God. The noise and restlessness of activity obscures His still, small voice and gentle communication. In the place of stillness we reconnect with beauty, we reconnect with gratitude and authenticity. Stillness is life and breath to the soul, bathing it in the living water it thrives on. You need stillness in your life more than you know.

Mindfulness Practice of breathing through the Psalms adapted from Fr. Richard Rohr’s prayerful meditations.