"Be Still and Listen"

When my sixteen year old granddaughter, Montana, was five we were sitting on my front porch, our backs leaning up against the door trying to stay out of the rain. While we were sitting there quietly, I looked at her sweet little face and asked her "what do you hear?" She said "The trees". When I asked her what the trees were telling her she responded "they're telling me to be still and listen". Wow....the wisdom of a five year old.

Today, I'm sitting quietly reading a new poetry book and hear rain. I am reminded of that front porch conversation and Montana's wisdom....."be still and listen". In a talk we were having a few days ago she was sharing about a decision she's made....her process of decision making demonstrating that she still has that wonderful gift of deeply listening to herself.

These days I have less distractions, so find it easier to slow down and listen deeper. Some of the ways I do that are by taking walks, journaling, gardening, praying, laughing, working on my dreams and listening to great music. Often the listening deeper is not about having to know more..... it's about becoming comfortable with the not knowing. These days I think I like knowing less and trusting more.

It's hard to remember in our sometimes hurried days that all we really need is deep within us waiting to unfold and reveal itself. All we have to do is take the time to "be still and listen". The poet Rilke says, in one of his Love Poems to God...."I want to unfold. Let no place in me hold itself closed, for where I am closed, I am false. I want to stay clear in your sight."

I Kings 19 says "..... Elijah runs to Mt. Horeb. He looks for God, as did Moses, in the wind, earthquake, and fire, symbols of the mountain god. However, Elijah meets God in the 'sound of a gentle breeze'."

How can you listen more deeply in order to be clearer about who you are and where your heart's voice would lead you? I'd love your comments about ways that you "be still and listen".