Silence

 Psalm 145:1-5, 18-22

The Psalmist today praises God in creation. All the created things are to be praised. Have you thought about lifting up praise?

In a world filled with bad news it is hard to wrap our heads around giving praise. It seems like help is all we want to raise up instead. We want divisions healed, we want to hear about the positive things happening. Yet we can't open our minds to see the praise we might give. 

Have you ever stood in the woods or at a stream and wondered? Wondered how many years it had been here. Wondered what language it is speaking to the trees, the ground, the animals which come by. Sit in this peace, rest into it and read the Psalm. 

I will exalt you, O God my King,

    and will bless your Name for ever and ever.

Every day will I bless you

    and praise your Name for ever and ever.

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;

    there is no end to his greatness.

This is just a few lines. But sit with those in your heart. Imagine how long these words have endured. Much longer then your life, or your grandparents, or your great grandparents, or anyone in existence. These words have come down through the ages for today. 

With all the talk, and all the busyness, and all the hustle of life we forget to stop and listen. Listen into the quiet or take a piece of scripture and just have all else stop for awhile. You will find rest and deep peace and most of all wonder. 

A wonder which can't be described or limited. This is the wonder of truly entering into the silent stillness which is greater than all the noise. It comforts and gives us deep rest and it is so much of what the world needs right now. 

To see that more than all the noise, the silence grows and gives us strength to face the coming days. It wraps itself into our hearts and binds us to the One who created us and gave us life. It is living water for the soul and good news for our hearts. It helps us to face the toughest days and grounds us in what is enduring. Not the noise, but the silence. 

So go and find the streams of living water to sit by. Go and feel your smallness. Go and praise the ground about you, the wind, the snow, and the beauty of the enduring earth. Know you are meant to sit here and heal.