Just Be Still ... Still Be Just

Three years ago I began the spiritual practice of discerning a yearly "sacred word." These words have been beacons of hope and reassurance that God is always present - reminding me to slow down, lay fallow and dance with abandon. 

For the past few months I have been prayerfully listening and looking for a "sacred word" to accompany me throughout the coming year. It would appear that God has been gently nudging me toward the word "still." 

"Still" is a lovely little word that contains a beautiful paradox of faith - our call to both stop moving and keep moving. As people of faith, we are called to slow down and "be still" as well as to take action and "still be" the presence of Christ in a broken world.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind... 

and love your neighbor as yourself." 

Matthew 22:37-38

We love God by looking inward through prayer, stillness and contemplation. At these times I long to just be still. And we love our neighbor by looking outward with peace, justice and action. At these times I pray for the strength to still be just.

As I embrace "still" as my word for the year I pray for clarity on how to put my faith in action. I pray that God will guide me as I seek opportunities to be alone and united, to be silent and speak out, to rest quietly and engage actively, to just be still and still be just. 

By the grace of God may it be so.