Lent 8

Come and Find the Quiet Center (words by Shirley Erena Murray) (TFWS 2128)

Come and find the quiet center,
in the crowded life we lead
find the room for hope to enter,
find the frame where we are freed:
clear the chaos and the clutter,
clear our eyes that we can see
all the things that really matter,
be at peace and simply be.

Silence is a friend who claims us,
cools the heat and slows the pace,
God it is who speaks and names us,
knows our being, touches base,
making space within our thinking,
lifting shades to show the sun,
raising courage when we’re shrinking,
finding scope for faith begun.

In the Spirit let us travel,
open to each other’s pain,
let our loves and fears unravel,
celebrate the space we gain:
there’s a place for deepest dreaming,
there’s a time for heart to care,
in the Spirit’s lively scheming
there is always room to spare!

Come and find the quiet center,
in the crowded life we lead
find the room for hope to enter,
find the frame where we are freed:
clear the chaos and the clutter,
clear our eyes that we can see
all the things that really matter,
be at peace and simply be.

I posted this last year, but a day like today brings it back to mind. I started my day (well, the outside of my house part of the day) drowning. I was surrounded by clutter and noise and activity and people and voices and machines and sirens and...and... I couldn't hardly take it. I felt queasy and flushed. I couldn't focus on any of the things I was trying to do. And then, in a fit of need, with a little help, I got some of the clutter under control. We closed the door and blocked out some of the noise. I turned into myself, closed my eyes, and said a prayer. My prayer was simple. Over and over again, "God, calm my heart. Quiet my spirit. Calm my heart. Quiet my spirit. Calm my heart. Quiet my spirit." And after a while, I did find quiet and calm and focus. Sometimes--well, most times--life has to be lived in the midst of the busy and crazy and loud and active. But sometimes you need to step aside for a minute, collect your thoughts, recharge, and be renewed.

I think about Jesus after the death of his dear friend John. When he received word, I'm sure many people crowded around him. "Jesus, I'm sorry. Jesus, did you hear? Jesus, are you afraid? Jesus, will you say anything in response?" And in Matthew's Gospel, Jesus drew away from the shore and found the quiet isolation of a boat on the water. After a while, he went back to the shore, to the crowds, to the place where he would feed a great multitude, but first he had to take a breather. May we all learn to step away from the crowd and the noise to recharge and refocus so that we will be refreshed for our service.