The Power of Stability

Stability

There is a power that we carelessly neglect in todays Hypermobile society.  This power is called stability and inherent in it are so many gifts and blessings that lead to a better life, an understanding of one's purpose in life, and opportunities to improve yourself and the communities in which we live.  Yesterday, I had a visit from a young artist whom I have admired over the years.  This person, who is very free spirited, just as I am, and creative left corporate America and one of the largest companies on the face of the earth, in order to pursue her dream to be an artist.  Having moved to New York city for a season she discovered the speed and pace of life there was frenetic to say the least.  Considering she was raised in a small rural southern town with a much slower pace, New York was an experience on the other side of the spectrum.  I listened intently as my young friend discussed the call to come back to her southern roots, not fully understanding why, since this is a place you grow up an get as far away from as possible after you reach adulthood.  The job opportunities are dismal, no starbucks or coffee shops, no art's community, no vegetarian restaurants, or bookstores.  Life in the rural south may be considered by some to be boring and unsophisticated.  So she pondered out loud, why would I be compelled to come back to such a place.  She expressed that she sought me out for guidance as I too made the voyage over 20 years ago from sophisticated urban dweller (Chicago) to southern rural living (Arkansas).  Didn't I question myself on such a radical move that may have been construed by some as stepping backwards?  My answers to her were as follows and these answers only came about in the passage of many years and conversations with God.

First, the greatest lessons from life come from stillness and the more you can embrace it the more fulfilling your life will be and the more impact you will have on others.  If you embrace a slower lifestyle you can hear the voice of God so much better and it is unencumbered with distractions, opinions and illusions that are associated with fast paced go go living in large urban cities.  You purpose and call in life becomes real and you have the ability to see progress so much clearer.

Second, the lives you impact with your gifts will be so rich and rewarding to you.  My friend agreed as she expressed with great enthusiasm how edified she was this summer when she participated in the Freedom Schools that are lifting so many of our young people and giving them a sense of hope from and connection to the struggles of the civil rights movement.  As an artist this experience showed her how artistry can be expanded with the fresh perspective derived from meeting and shaking hands with iconic figures such as Marian Wright Edelman, John Lewis and Andrew Young.  She would most likely not have had these experiences in the larger noisier confines of the city.  She retreated at the Alex Haley Home House in rural Tennessee and allowed his spirit and stories to speak to her heart.  She could now breathe and grasp the gift so freely given by our Lord and that is inspiration.  This gift of inspiration is what allows us to bless others and find strength to take our calling higher and higher.  To reach more and more people throughout our community.

Stability at it's core is something we should all embrace in our lives.  We must shake off the false notions about run here run there, be a part of the latest craze, move from here and run to there, over and over again as if living on a treadmill.  Jump from one idea to the next without allowing any of them to marinate and settle in the stable soils of life to germinate and grow as an old oak tree.

Sometime's we just need to be still and "Know that he is God" and through the blessings of stability, he will give us a full life with many blessings and benefits.

Peace!