We are on the cusp of Thanksgiving and with that, about to dive into Advent and Christmas. Times we spend with our family and friends, and probably a lot of hustle and bustle. Maybe too much hustle and bustle. Too often, when it is all over, we feel like we have blinked, and it is over. But during the run up to these holidays we feel the stress of preparing, traveling, hosting and just generally getting ready because everything has to be perfect. 

It is also easy to fill our days and time with stuff that is either entertaining us or distracting us. Screen time, podcasts, shows on any of the numerous networks available to us. So, when do we just really chill out and decompress? When do we unclench our teeth and exhale? Have we gotten to the point where silence makes us actually uncomfortable?

Silence… an elusive place or state. It is hard for all of us to find it in the midst of this busy world and busy lives. But Jesus knows how IMPORTANT silence is to us, to calm our rapidly beating hearts, to let all the thoughts in our heads find a way out or to fade into the background, and to recharge us. 

Psalm 46 starts with, “God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress. Thus, we do not fear, though earth be shaken.” (Ps 46:1-2) He helps us when all around us is chaos, maybe chaos of our own making. The Psalm continues, “Be still and know that I am God!” (Ps 46:11) I did not add the exclamation point, God felt it was important enough to put it there himself. He wants us to be still, to embrace silence to be thus renewed. By not doing that, we are ignoring not only this good advice but also His command for us. He knows what is best for us, we should try it more often. 

In the Gospel of Mark chapter 4, there is the story of the Calming of the Sea, one of my favorites. You may remember that Jesus and the disciples are crossing the Sea of Galilee in a boat. While Jesus was sleeping, a violent storm overtook the boat with waves crashing into the boat and it was in danger of sinking. All were terrified so they woke Jesus. “He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the seas, “Quiet! Be still!”” (Mark 4:39) Jesus then says, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” (Mark 4:40) This painting from Rembrandt called The Storm on the Sea of Galilee captures the moment. 

In this story, Jesus rebukes the sea, but when I read it, I hear him rebuking us in the storms that we live in. He is yelling (exclamation point again) to get our attention, to drag us away from our busyness, from our own chaos to… rest in him. I don’t know about you, but I cannot get to this place if I don’t get quiet and be still. And that happens best if I find silence. In that silence, we can find relief with and from him, we can sense better what he hopes for us, and we find that maybe those problems and worries are not so profound after all. We should try that this week and in the coming weeks….