photo by E. Williams
Be Still, Not Bored
“… I have no peace, no quietness; I have no
rest, but only turmoil." Job 3:26 (NIV)
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted
among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
“I’m bored!� These words strike a
chord deep within every mother’s breast.
Emotions ranging from simple annoyance to
utter disbelief produce a quick response from
the beleaguered parent: a sadly familiar litany
of possible activities.
“… I have no peace, no quietness; I have no
rest, but only turmoil." Job 3:26 (NIV)
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted
among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
“I’m bored!� These words strike a
chord deep within every mother’s breast.
Emotions ranging from simple annoyance to
utter disbelief produce a quick response from
the beleaguered parent: a sadly familiar litany
of possible activities.
Why can’t this otherwise delightful person find something to do…by herself? Why
must she be entertained?
To avoid this turn of events, loving parents dutifully offer an array of enticing activities
to fill their child’s spare time. That’ll send boredom packing! But boredom isnâ
€™t really the problem. The problem is the child’s inability to be at ease with quiet
time or solitude. Being busy is comfortable, especially when someone else is directing
the action. Being still is harder and requires self direction.
We adults often treat our own spare time with intensity akin to that with which we
attack our children’s unstructured hours. We race madly about attempting to pack
as much diversion as possible into each weekend. We stay up late watching TV. We
spend mindless hours in front of a computer screen. We work hard to earn our leisure
time, but we are hardly leisurely in how we spend it. Our time off is more tiring than
our work hours! Busyness triumphs over tranquility and leaves us exhausted and empty.
There is unappreciated value in time that is without agenda or plan; time which we are
currently conditioned to fill with activity because we are uncomfortable without some
sort of diversion. But if we allow ourselves to be still, if we learn to quiet our hearts,
minds and bodies, even for a few moments, the benefits are immeasurable. These are
the times without distraction or hurry when we are open to wonderful oneness with our
Father. Times when the Holy Spirit can freely work within us. Times when we can
repent of our sinful actions and rejoice in our unearned forgiveness. Times when we
can offer our love and praise to our Savior. Those “empty� moments are no
longer empty but filled with joy and renewal.
If we can extract ourselves and our children from the world’s frantic pace and learn
the skill of stillness, our down time will become UP time, as we shift our focus from
worldly matters to an upward focus on God. We have a responsibility to teach
ourselves and our children how to be intentionally still with hearts open to our Lord.
Shhh! God is calling….. Will you stop to listen?
© 2008 Elizabeth Williams
must she be entertained?
To avoid this turn of events, loving parents dutifully offer an array of enticing activities
to fill their child’s spare time. That’ll send boredom packing! But boredom isnâ
€™t really the problem. The problem is the child’s inability to be at ease with quiet
time or solitude. Being busy is comfortable, especially when someone else is directing
the action. Being still is harder and requires self direction.
We adults often treat our own spare time with intensity akin to that with which we
attack our children’s unstructured hours. We race madly about attempting to pack
as much diversion as possible into each weekend. We stay up late watching TV. We
spend mindless hours in front of a computer screen. We work hard to earn our leisure
time, but we are hardly leisurely in how we spend it. Our time off is more tiring than
our work hours! Busyness triumphs over tranquility and leaves us exhausted and empty.
There is unappreciated value in time that is without agenda or plan; time which we are
currently conditioned to fill with activity because we are uncomfortable without some
sort of diversion. But if we allow ourselves to be still, if we learn to quiet our hearts,
minds and bodies, even for a few moments, the benefits are immeasurable. These are
the times without distraction or hurry when we are open to wonderful oneness with our
Father. Times when the Holy Spirit can freely work within us. Times when we can
repent of our sinful actions and rejoice in our unearned forgiveness. Times when we
can offer our love and praise to our Savior. Those “empty� moments are no
longer empty but filled with joy and renewal.
If we can extract ourselves and our children from the world’s frantic pace and learn
the skill of stillness, our down time will become UP time, as we shift our focus from
worldly matters to an upward focus on God. We have a responsibility to teach
ourselves and our children how to be intentionally still with hearts open to our Lord.
Shhh! God is calling….. Will you stop to listen?
© 2008 Elizabeth Williams