Are you shouting Heaven down?

Daughters singing.  Brushes are their microphones.  Scarves are their hair.

Father and son sit closely, heads hurdled almost together, discussing the basketball game: The Heats defeat.  Losing to the Magic (think that's the name). 

I sit at dinner table taking it all in: the scenery.  I'm imploding.

Quietness.  Stillness. "Please Lord let them grab hold of the cup.  Your cup."

You tell me all the time: "Angie, be still and know that I am God." ~ Ps. 46:10

"Why won't you tell them?"

I confess.  I'm worried silly about my family.



The culprits?  Facebook.  Texting and Television.  I see what I've stayed home to do...to teach ...  suddenly being snatched away.  Eyes no longer sees the quiet heart of home.  And even sadder, they, my family are not having to stray from home for the experience.  Father tells the daughter,"Be on HIGH alert."  Satan is trying to grasp the attention of this home.  We're all in the same room...just in the same room doing our "own thing."  Oh, yes, we, the parents are quietly falling into the same trap.


Aren't I ... we ... the parents... aren't we to lead by example?

I don't always do that.  You see, I am a blogger.  My life consist of computers, tweeting and Facebooking... it's all about Him...for Him so doesn't that count?  "Right?  That counts Lord right?   Surely, Lord You understand my business.  My work...I'm doing kingdom business...getting Your Word out."



The Father whispers ever so sweet and lovingly to the heart of His daughter, "You be still child.  Show them how to be still.  You are the teacher.  Teach.  Teach them how to practice stillness.  You learn to be still before them.  Don't say it.  Show it."

Stillness.  Perfect stillness: a gift.  Most don't see it as such, especially those it is afforded to.

And for others, those who yearn for this verb... those who want to feel it in their grip and clutch it close to their hearts... those who yearn to sit back and reflect gazing at full moons and such ...those who would be much obliged by the gift.  For them the gift isn't readily afforded.



"His voice brought stillness to fierce winds and wild waves, and He will surely help us if we put ourselves firmly and determinedly in His presence.  'I'm here Lord.  I'm listening.  If no word seems to be forthcoming, remember, it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord,' and when He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?"  ~ Elisabeth Elliot

In The Screwtape Letters C.S. Lewis writes about the correspondence between Screwtape, under-secretary to the devil, and his nephew, Wormwood, instructing him in the best ways to tempt the followers of the Enemy, God:


My dear Wormwood: Music and silence—how I detest them both!  How thankful we should be that ever since our Father entered Hell—though longer ago than humans, reckoning in light years could express, no square inch of infernal space and no moment of internal time has been surrendered to either of those abominable forces, but all has been occupied by Noise—Noise, the grand dynamism, the audible expression of all that is exultant, ruthless, and virile—Noise which alone defends us from silly qualms, despairing scruples, and impossible desires.  We will make the whole universe a noise in the end.  We have already made great strides in this direction as regards the Earth.  The Melodies and silences of Heaven will be shouted down in the end.  But I admit we are not yet loud enough, or have anything like it.  Research in progress.



"C.S. Lewis died in 1963.  Research in noise-making has made considerable progress since then, don't you think?"  Elisabeth Elliot

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