Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Emily Stuart: Silence

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In the world we currently live in, life is constantly going, moving, changing.  No one seems to take the time to stroll, stop, or “smell the roses” if you will excuse the pun. Instead, the western world must be constantly entertained with our smart phones, 4G Internet connection, and perpetual picture taking, viewing, and liking. We have “no time” to enjoy the creation we’ve been given. We have “no time” to behold the wonder and majesty of a world that moves slowly and unhurriedly on without our input or inquiry. We have “no time” to let silence be transformed into sacred.
            A few months ago, the wise friend told me that the act of being still in nature as worship to God, and there are wonderful gifts that would therefore spring forth from it. It really resonated with me because in that moment I realized that I myself do not take the time to ‘behold’ nature besides the occasional cliché sunset or Noland Trail walk.  You see, God himself was “hovering over the water” before the formation of the world, not speaking, not taking photos or checking His twitter followers, but beholding His own glory in that moment of pre-creation. And from that stillness, that quiet, secret place, the world was born.
            Since we are beings created in His own image, I believe our creativity can be born in the midst of beholding the creation God has set before us. Poetry can be written after a few hours in the woods, paintings can be painted after a few moments of prayer and meditation, music can be composed out of the quiet in our heads and hearts. A place can become sacred in the silence.

            Creation is unhurried. The wilderness isn’t rushing from place to place, entertaining itself with mindless buzzfeed articles and facebook photo albums. Creation creates organically and leisurely, and we can take a lesson from it.

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