There’s a familiar phrase that people say describes me perfectly: Tyranny of the urgent. Those “people” are probably right. But I know I can’t possibly be the only person who can identify with this. With people who live under this endearing (?) quality, everything has a deadline, and we MUST FINISH ON SCHEDULE! When I get an idea to sew something, it must be done TODAY. If I get inspired to write something, I go into overdrive and write as fast and as much as possible, just in case I forget something. Once I start a project, I can’t sleep until I either finish it or find an obvious and acceptable stopping point. Nothing should be put off until tomorrow if it can be done today, right? Right?? Very wrong.
I know all about deadlines that really are necessary. Term papers have to be turned in, doctor appointments require punctuality, income taxes must be filed by a certain date, work projects must be completed on time, and on and on. But let’s face it – EVERYTHING does not have an urgent deadline. I know I tend to create my own urgent deadlines, because…,well, I don’t know. Ever since I was a very little girl, my mother was always saying to me, “Stop rushing!” I was always trying to find a shortcut, or working too fast, even reading and talking to fast. I sometimes missed a lot or made mistakes. I guess there really was a good reason my mother would chide me for rushing. It’s not that it made her nervous; she knew that rushing would cause me to miss valuable moments or opportunities.
The Bible says, “Be still and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10. What does that even mean? Why be still when there’s so much to do? During this COVID-19 isolation and quarantine, no one is rushing anywhere – not to work, school, appointments…ANYWHERE. There’s nowhere to run away to or distract from one’s thoughts. So, it’s time to sit and listen. To be still.
I used to think that being still was unproductive and a waste of time. I kind of thought it was being lazy. However, being still and allowing yourself to receive, rather than always having to push, push, push is probably one of the most productive things a person can do. I have discovered that, when I am being still, my heart and mind can hear. Trying to hear yourself think or hear God’s voice while under the tyranny of the urgent is like trying to hear a friend whispering to you while standing at a rock concert. You see the lips moving, but you have to interpret the best you can and just hope you got it right.
Another translation of that scripture says “Surrender your anxiety! Be silent and stop your striving, and you will see that I am God.” – The Passion Translation
We have no choice right now, right? We can’t strive at our usual schedule anyway, so all we can do is surrender our anxiety, listen, and let God handle it. No matter what your beliefs are, when you are powerless to change anything, it’s infinitely easier to let someone who does have power take over. Be still and wait. Be still and listen. Be still and chill.
And dance on.
Grace Notes 