Happy New Year! I hope 2025 will be a good one for you.
Thanks to Margaret Simon for organizing the Spiritual Journey Thursday group, and especially for this new and beautiful image. Find here blog HERE.
It's time to figure out my OLW (One Little Word) which will guide my posts throughout the year. I had a lot of fun with SONG as my OLW last year. This year I'm choosing STILL as my word.
I'm a Martha kind of person. I tend to keep myself busy. I like my activities: keeping my home, reading, singing in choir, gardening, writing, teaching, praying. As times goes on, however, I realize limits of energy and time. I'm learning to appreciate still times.
Some years ago I had this little quote on my refrigerator.
God is the still point
at the center
utterly at home
God lives in us forever.
- Julian of Norwich
Winter is a good season to be still. It can offer quiet time, a slowing of our crazy busy lives. This is a good time to weigh the benefits of stillness. To listen for the still small voice.
from a 2016 calendar by Wendy Bentley
I hope to hear from you in the days ahead. Let me know if you find solace in stillness.
Here is a beautiful hymn, one of my father's favorites, to the tune of Finlandia by Sibelius.
Best wishes for a safe, healthy, and restful January.
I love that we both chose the word still. It's in a whisper from God to both of us, a reminder to appreciate the small moments of quiet, rather than trying to fill them up with something to do. Thanks for being a part of our SJT community.
ReplyDeleteKaren, what a sweet surprise to see yours and Margaret's identical twin words here and there. I can take a lesson from you both. I too have spent a lifetime busy, like Martha. I just finished a poetry book by Denise Levertov with a poem "The Showings: Lady Julian of Norwich, 1342-1416". It made me want to read more about her, as did the quote you shared here: "God lives in us forever." Thank you. Thanks for the "Be Still" hymn too. I'm listening to it right now, while I write this. (Hmmm...I have more lessons to learn about stillness.)
ReplyDeleteKaren, with all of the hustle and bustle in our lives, we don't always take time for ourselves. You word reminds us that we need to take a time out for ourselves. Be still. Enjoy the peace and quiet. There will still be time to do things after we take a moment for ourselves. Bob
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Karen. What a lovely hymn. And, I so understand that beauty of still. I look forward to learning what stillness has to offer you through this year.
ReplyDeleteGreat choice by you and Margaret! Happy New Year! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteYes! Stillness, solace in winter --even in our desert! Last year I spent most of winter in mountain stillness. Snow quiets everything. Yet, here in AZ, still shows up as dormant grasses, bare ocotillo, and even soup-cold days. I relish the time to stay in and mine the quiet! The hymn haunts. Such a good pairing with stillness. Blessings, Karen!
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