Be Still… Hear God’s Will

Amy sat in her black Honda in a parking lot hidden by a grove of trees. Her thoughts tumbled in her mind like clothes in a dryer. Thoughts about the unchecked items on her “to do” list, her brother’s concerns about their aging mother, the news update on world events, and her condo’s special assessment due at the end of the month.

That’s why she drove to escape. Her escape destination was the forest preserve and its network of paths that spilled over acres of trees, wetlands and hills sculpted by glaciers.

Amy’s step out of her car triggered a slideshow of activity. The show’s kick-off was a middle-aged woman, wearing a red scarf, hanging onto a leash harnessed to a frisky terrier leading her (dragging would be more accurate) to the lot’s corner. This pair had their end of walk routine down pretty good. When they reached their car, the dog patiently waited for his mistress to open the rear door, wrap her arms around him and lift him onto his assigned seat. Their routine was efficient and orderly.

Next up was a man wearing sunglasses and young boy exiting a silver SUV parked five spaces from her. She didn’t need a detective’s intuition to assume this was a father and son as their blue and orange jackets and caps matched. An enthusiastic exchange between the two hinted at their shared love of the outdoors.

A rapidly approaching jogger was spotted on the eastern path. As the figure drew closer Amy could see the jogger was a young woman entertained by tunes streaming through earbuds. The young woman began to disappear on the downhill path and was replaced by a biker.

The biker, a bearded man on a mountain bike, was pedaling in the opposite direction of the jogger so his journey was uphill. His pace was strong and steady to reach the top of the hill and once there turned onto a downhill path and coasted out of sight.

The slideshow of activity was now over. Amy’s quick pace transported her from the asphalt of the parking lot to the finely ground grey and brown gravel of her chosen path.

She walked and her eyes were drawn to the soft ground under her feet. The moisture softened gravel displayed evidence that she wasn’t the only traveler on this path. Print evidence revealed the presence of humans, animals and wheeled vehicles.

There were the familiar prints of dogs walking with their human companions, human prints with patterned soles identifying their chosen footwear, and the pointed hoof prints of white-tailed deer that called these woods home. The path also revealed the passage of riders on horses whose deep prints collected moisture from nature’s gift of rain and snow.

Not to be ignored was the single unbroken line of a bicycle tire tread and a larger wheel tread that was proof of the routine patrolling of forest preserve caretakers in four-wheeled vehicles.

Like lines marking a pedestrian street crossing—the long, straight shadows cast by trees marked the path. These shadows were unique; the summer shadows with leaf laden branches were replaced by shadows painted by this season’s light shortened days.

Amy looked up from the print-marked ground to the trees bordering the path. She saw it was the proud oaks that held on their rich brown leaves longer than their hardwood cousins. There were trees with trunks so straight they reminded her of a yardstick. There were trees with bark as smooth as her leather purse and others with rough, ribbed bark leading up to their tangle of branches.

Her mind began to quiet; no longer was she overcome by a tumble of thoughts.

The path gently curved exposing what was hidden by the trees. She saw acres of wetland gently stretched and hemmed in by borders of hills. The wetland was clothed with short, tightly knit grasses surrounded by tall, willowy grasses. Their individual colors of browns, greys and mauve blended as only nature can do.

The path led to a bridge built with wood planks over the wetland. Amy became aware of not only the wood slates that elevated her over the wet ground – but also the thump of her soft-soled shoes as she walked on those wood planks. The rhythmic thump changed as she stepped back onto the gravel path to a scrunch interrupted by a crackle when her feet encountered the grudgingly released brittle leaves of those proud oak trees.

The path led up another hill and the exertion made Amy aware of the involuntary opening of her mouth to take in more air to make the climb. The air was cool and if teeth could talk, they’d say, cool like the drinks of summer.

A gentle turn of the path revealed a wood bench. The bench was placed there for those needing a break from their walk or an invitation to take in the view of the wetlands below. Amy accepted its invitation to take in the view and sat down.

She heard the chirp of a bird hidden in the dense wetland grass, the rustle of leaves disturbed by a squirrel searching for food, and a honk that drew her eyes up to witness geese highlighted by the backdrop of the blue and gold-tinged sky.

Something changed. Her thoughts were no longer tumbling. She escaped from the tumbling thoughts of responsibilities, worry and fear. She was free of the thoughts of responsibilities she couldn’t escape; the worries about things she couldn’t control; and the fear she couldn’t handle what was coming at her.

Something shifted. She felt her attention pulled from herself—the self that was bordered by this world—to a place of rest and peace beyond her. It was only when she escaped the bondage of self and the world did her thoughts quiet. She became still.

In this stillness, something prompted Amy to look up. She looked up and saw the light of the winter’s sun break through a tangle of tree branches. Because Amy was still—she didn’t miss it.

Who is Amy?

Amy is us. Amy is a woman living in today’s world with responsibilities, worries and fears. She’s teaching us to be proactive and seek quiet to be still.

If she wasn’t still, she would never have seen the light breaking through the tangle of branches. And if Amy is us—we know the light is why we’re sisters in Christ.

Why is it important to be still?

Let Scripture tell us …

Jesus was still and heard God’s will.

“Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there.” (Matthew 15:29)

Isaiah was still and heard God’s will.

“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here I am! Send me.’” (Isaiah 6:8)

Elijah was still and heard God’s will.

“And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.” (1 Kings 19:12)

Heaven was still and heard God’s will.

“When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” (Revelation 8:1)

God’s messengers and our LORD, Jesus, lived in obedience to God’s will. They heard God’s will and stepped out in obedience. We’re to do the same.

But will we miss it? Will we hear God’s will for our life?