By Scott Linnerud, MDiv, Bereavement Program Manager, Interim HealthCare Hospice
I sat on a curb in Midland, Texas watching my 17-month-old granddaughter curiously dig through a pile of leaves and dirt looking for treasures. This activity arrested her attention for over an hour. She was in awe of all things beautiful in her eyes – leaves, acorns, and rocks. As soon as her little fingers found something new, she would wobble over to me with expectation in her innocent eyes hoping I would share in her enthusiasm of discovery. I would hold out my hand and she would gently deposit her find and then look at me with a heart-melting smile. After the obligatory “good job” and approving smile, she would return to her pile of leaves and dirt for more persistent investigation.
She wasn’t enthralled by a screen with buttons, and moving cartoons didn’t capture her attention. She was simply in awe of discovery. These are cherished “touchstone moments” in my life. They are shared experiences of wonder through the eyes, mind, and heart of innocence. A shared moment in time with someone who has an unfiltered and uncluttered imagination. For me it was an exercise to experience peace.
Our lives are filled with a cacophony of voices. It’s all noise and turbulence. Distractions pull our hearts in so many directions that we simply cannot find time to focus on just one thing or person. It is a competition for attention, and if we give in, we easily miss the beautiful for the immediate. We must make space for peace through quiet connections.
The psalmist wrote, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). There is a lot of chaos and loud voices in the first 9 verses of this psalm. The words “be still” mean to cease striving; to sink down (like get comfy) and relax. It’s as if the writer gently puts their arm around our shoulder and says, “Just stop, quiet yourself, and listen to the One voice that can be trusted to make sense of all the craziness.” Clearly verse 7 teaches us the key to this peace is through a connection with God (“the LORD Almighty is with us”).
This is a reminder to slow down, pause, and become comfortable with the silence to enjoy God’s presence, and then we will enjoy peace. I would encourage you to get off the merry-go-round and find this peace. We get pulled away from being captivated by wonder through the turbulence going on all around us. We need to learn to sit on the curb and drink in the discovery of the beauty God has placed right next to us.
