Good morning…
I inched my way through thick Friday traffic to get to Lake Lanier Islands for our “Made for More” women’s retreat. I arrived early, settled into my room, then went out into the woods to breathe before our 7:00 pm dinner. The winter sun was setting, and I didn’t want to miss it. As I sat still, admiring the dark brilliance, I lived into the words I would teach the next day.
“The soul speaks its truth only under quiet, inviting, and trustworthy conditions,” writes Parker Palmer on page 7 of Let Your Life Speak. “The soul is like a wild animal – tough, resilient, savvy, self-sufficient, and yet exceedingly shy. If we want to see a wild animal, the last thing we should do is to go crashing through the woods, shouting for the creature to come out. But if we are willing to walk into the woods and sit silently for an hour or two at the base of a tree, the creature we are waiting for may well emerge, and out of the corner of an eye we will catch a glimpse of the precious wildness we seek.”
From 6:15 to 6:50 pm, I waited in silence at the base of a tree. Wow! My shy, savvy soul caught a glimpse of the precious wildness of our God.
From ancient times no one has heard, no one has listened, no eye has seen any God except You, who acts on behalf of the one who waits for Him (Isaiah 64:4, HCSB).
Sit. Quiet. Wait.
Hear. Listen. See God.
…Sue…
