Be Still and Know

World Day of Prayer is next week, and I am so ready for it.

I’m a thinker. In fact, I’m an overthinker. Especially when I’m having a problem or wrestling with a dilemma, my brain gets busy trying to figure out solutions, ways forward. Even in prayer, I’m focused and intentional about what I need or want.

There’s nothing wrong with that, of course. Unity teaches that we have the power to improve our lives by changing our thinking and encourages us to bring our spiritual gifts to bear when endeavoring to make positive changes. But as most of us learn at one time or another, there is a time for activity and a time for receptivity, for stillness.

For me that stillness is long overdue. Recently I’ve decided what I need the most is to relax and deeply rest. It’s been quite a year. I’ve shared some of my more memorable experiences in these letters. I let you know about how we coped in the aftermath of our flood. I wrote how prayer kept me grounded and aware even though I was in the middle of a mess, the situation (just like every situation) was temporary. I shared that we had lost our beloved cat to cancer earlier this year. Prayer was my comfort and helped me discern the best decisions to make for Buddy’s end-of-life care. Just last month, I told you about frustrating conversations I’ve been having with doctors’ offices and insurance companies trying to get a scheduled surgery approved.

Through each experience, I relied on prayer to help me keep my aggravating and disappointing experiences in perspective. Prayer reminded me that God was present, even when the Divine felt far away. Prayer helped me maintain (and sometimes regain) a feeling of power and control when I felt at the mercy of challenging circumstances.

Now I’m ready to turn to prayer to find the peace, relaxation, and rest for which I feel so ready. I’m grateful for this year’s World Day of Prayer theme, “Be Still and Know.” Those very words are a balm, a comfort, and enough to settle my thinking and calm my mind.

World Day of Prayer

Given the news of the world these days, I’m sure I’m not alone in wanting to settle my mind and enter the expanse of divine peace. This peace is within us always, of course. We need only to remove the blocks to feel it.

There is a time for activity and busyness. There is a time for dreaming big and trying to make things happen. But there is also a time for quiet and contemplation. There is a time to be still and know.

I invite you to join me. Be sure to register for the upcoming online events on September 10 and 11. I pray you will feel renewed spending some time in blessed stillness, knowing the Truth of God that surrounds you and the peace of God that is within you.