Be Still…
“Be still, and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10
“He leads me beside still waters” Psalm 23:2
For an introvert like me, solitude is important. As much as I enjoy (and need) the company of others, I have to spend time alone. Built into my day are two very different times of quiet; one is the time when I read and reflect on the Bible, the other is time when I take Dog for a walk. For simplicity, I shall refer to these times as Meditation and Mindfulness.
Mindfulness has become a popular concept in recent years. A Google search reveals countless sites devoted to the topic, including an NHS site which lauds the benefits of mindfulness to mental health and advice on how to practice it. I find that walking in peaceful surroundings relaxes me and I can allow my thoughts to roam freely, while at the same time tuning in to my surroundings. I hear the birds, the Robin, Great Tit and Skylark as well as the Wood pigeons and crows. I see the wildflowers with the visiting butterflies and bees.
Leisure What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep or cows. No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass. No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night. No time to turn at Beauty's glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance. No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began. A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. William Henry Davies
Walking with Tom in the Cape fynbos was always a leisurely affair, no rushing from A to B just to say we had been, but stopping to examine the beautiful flowers along the way. Tom loved to take close-up photographs of the flowers, a tricky business in the wind. It gave me plenty of time to linger and enjoy my surroundings. Likewise, when walking along a beach, he would stop to observe the ripples in a stream running into the sea. The ripples go backwards if you look for long enough! After Tom died, and shortly afterwards also our beloved dog, I found it hard to motivate myself to go for a walk. Although getting another dog seemed to be the answer, I thought long and hard about it. I was aware that I would be tied down by the responsibility that comes with owning a dog. For me the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages and Suki joined our family. There are several quiet walks near home where Dog can run freely and I can be left to my thoughts.
In my literature class, we recently studied a poem by A.R. Ammons called “Corsons Inlet” (1965). It is a wonderful poem describing a walk along the beach, with the lines on the page moving in and out like the waves and the poet’s thoughts drifting from his surroundings to his inner mind. The poem resonated with me because I don’t try to control my thoughts while I am walking. Giving my thoughts the chance to float around my mind has the effect of sorting them out without conscious effort. I come home feeling more relaxed and aware that, even if circumstances haven’t changed, I have.
Although, since my teens, I have tried to start the day with a quiet time, I only really learnt to meditate after Tom died. After a visit to the magnificent Durham Cathedral, I found myself in the bookshop. A curiosity about the Celtic saints, led me to books by the late David Adam (an Anglican priest). David Adams has published several collections of prayers and meditations based on the Celtic tradition and the lives of the Celtic saints. Reading his books slowly (as intended) – one chapter at a time – and doing the exercises at the end of each chapter added a new dimension to my life. I discovered a peace that passes understanding and went on to work my way through as many of his books as I could get hold of. The one in the photo, “Occasions for Alleluia” is about relaxing, becoming aware of the world around us and going on to rejoice.
On page 100 of “Healing a Spouse’s grieving Heart” (see previous blog) Alan Wolfelt says that, although you need others to help you while you are mourning, you also need to have time alone. “Don’t shut your friends and family out altogether, but do heed the call for contemplative silence.” Healing takes time, but I have found that healing takes place in solitude. For those of us with faith, we become aware of the presence of God; for others you will sense that you are part of a bigger, beautiful world. Our problems are put into perspective and no longer seem so enormous. We receive strength to carry on.
