Ash Wednesday

"Be still, and know that I am God!" (Psalm 46:10)

I guess I have heard these words for most of my life. I’m sure dad preached a sermon or two on them during my childhood and teenage years. I have read them for devotional times and have heard others use them for their devotionals at various occasions. The bottom line is that I have heard these words a lot, and yet I have to wonder why I haven’t learned to live according to this directive. Why do I find it so hard to "be still?" Is it because I have a case of undiagnosed attention deficit disorder? Perhaps. Is it because my Meyers-Briggs Personality trait is ESFJ (with a focus on the "E"-extrovert)? Why do I struggle to "be still?"

Here I am living through another Ash Wednesday. Here I am beginning another journey of Lent. Will it make a difference in me? Will I be able to "be still" long enough to "know that God is God?" Why don’t I like to "be still?" Maybe it is because I am afraid of what I might learn about myself. Maybe it is because I am afraid of what more I may learn about God. Maybe it is because of the irony that I’m tired of growing and changing so I like to be busy so I don’t have to address the growing pains of my human and spiritual journey. Maybe my "busyness" is an indicator of my fear of letting go of everything and letting God be really in charge.

"Be still, and know that I am God!" I do know it is true. It has to be. Lord, help me to be still. And yet asking you to help me be still is even scary. Because I suspect that if I’m not still you will find a way to make sure I am still because you really want me to know you in a deeper and fresher way. Honestly, Lord, I am a little afraid of this Lenten journey. So…

"Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn; through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light: take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home."