“What are you waiting for?”
“An idle mind is the workshop of the Devil.”
As a declared (and might I say proud) contrarian, it hit me during a recent conversation with my son-in-law (Utah’s dad), Rick, when he made the following comment about the how daunting it can be sometimes to just sit still: “Well, the fact is that I am still learning about that.” And I immediately flashed to the following three facts:
* I still love making steel-cut oatmeal;
* I still love Lionel Richie’s classic love song (sniff-sniff) “Still”;
* My most loved passage in the Bible is still Exodus 14:14.
Most mornings when I am at my home in the Twin Cities, I make steel-cut oatmeal for breakfast. Besides the fiber thing (just wait, you’ll be doing it too) I love what the 30-minute slow cook preparation yields: more texture, more flavor and the ritual of taking the time to be fully engaged in the process. It’s delicious and nourishing in all ways. It’s slooooooow good.
- I admit that I am a hopeless romantic. Every time I hear Lionel Richie/Commodores sing the classic hit, Still, it stops me.
I pause and in my immobility I am taken to another time where I find treasures that were lost. I wander through the words’ cavern:So many dreams that flew away
So many words we didn't say
Two people lost in a storm
Where did we go?
Where'd we go?
We lost what we both had found
You know we let each other down
But then most of all
I do love you
Still.
“The LORD will fight for you. You need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14. The Israelites are seemingly trapped between the (really ticked off) Egyptians and the Red Sea. They are terrified, confused, desperate and hopeless. That’s when Moses, instead of pouring fuel on their flagrant emotions, does the contrarian thing; he suggests that they trust the promise of God, put a sock in it, wait and believe (the faith thing) that if God could lead them into such a desperate situation…he likely has a handle on how to lead them out of it. Moses: clever little devil, wasn’t he?
As leaders, seekers and livers (not paté) it seems like it might be good to consider:
1. Take the time to claim rituals for slow cooking your ideas, plans and decisions. Some of the really delicious stuff is lost in Quick-Cooked 1 Minute solutions. Remember…even the One Minute Manager wasn’t cooked up over night. Try it; my guess is you’ll really feel your oats.
2. Listen to the rhythm of your heart, remember those things that fuel your passions and don’t ignore the background music. Don’t just (ho) hum past your moments of writing, reflecting, dreaming or planning. Tune in. Be present. My guess is that you’ll be instilled with much more from what you might discover, than what you didn’t “get done.”
3. No ifs, ands …however, plenty of butts. “Will everyone please sit down!” Catch your breath, stretch you weary muscles and take a moment to exprience exactly where you are right now, instead of wondering what it will be like if and when you get to…. Remember, if you are out in that sailboat and the wind dies, all your efforts will not get the sails to fill. Don’t waste your breath; breathe. Don’t just move about; be moved. Before you know it you will fill with a breath of fresh air to get you current.
Moved.
Still.
For emphasis – (b)
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