Sitting and waiting...

Gentle Correspondents,

For the past three years or so I have embarked on the most remarkable journey of my 50 years on earth. This journey has revealed (to me, at least) the incredible power of sitting still in total silence for thirty minutes to an hour every day.

I may devote the next few weeks to fleshing out the details of this practice with step-by-step how-to stuff, quotes by people far more articulate on this subject than I, and examples (tiny and not-so-tiny) of how this practice has revolutionized my life.

For the better, bien-sur.

Let me start by quoting one of those aforementioned way-too-articulate people, the prophet Isaiah. He had a pretty good idea of how things worked, even in pre-iPod times. From Isaiah 40:31, King James Version:

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Fortunately, I don't faint while walking. If I did, I probably wouldn't be taking the helm of a jetliner today bound for St. Louis today at 6:14 PM . Might I also add that after six miles of running, (Isaiah 40:31 or not) I feel quite weary. All due respect to the prophet.

What I do want to point out is that this concept of "waiting upon the Lord" changes everything.

And I do mean everything.

Everybody has their own way of receiving God's guidance, and I would like to share one particular method of "waiting upon the Lord".

Just like there are a million ways to stay physically fit and keep your body healthy, (marathons vs. thigh-master, for instance) there are also a zillion modalities (reading scripture vs. chanting, or even gardening) in the quest to access the Divine, or whatever name you have for the ineffable Presence that fuels every atom out there. Yes, every atom!

My favorite method is to sit down and shut up long enough so that God can get a word in edgewise. This is how I "wait upon the Lord".

I do this by sitting down every day for an hour or so (sometimes broken up into two thirty minute sessions) and becoming perfectly still and outwardly silent. (in other words, I stop shouting at politicians on TV)

The real meat of this practice is how to deal with the non-stop parade of thoughts that arise as you sit there trying to shut up mentally and "wait upon the Lord". More on that, and some of the industrial-strength benefits that can inure as a result of this practice next time.

Until then, cling to Isaiah 40:31, and try not to faint while walking. Your body, the people who love you and the local paramedics will thank you.

Steve : - )

P.S. - Many thanks to Brad Warner, author of "Sit Down and Shut Up" for that wonderful turn of phrase.