It sounds simple: go outside, step into the quiet, if just for a few minutes, and see what rises to the surface. But we can’t do that! It’s almost Christmas! We must do that. It’s almost Christmas. This is perhaps one of the most frustrating disciplines I’ve faced lately. Mainly because what rises to the surface is not very spiritual sounding. It isn’t profound, deep, or even very interesting. I’m tired. My hair is dirty. That leaf looks like a puppy. But I keep walking, avoiding on purpose the temptation to critique myself. Just keep walking.
Things don’t change. Problems are not solved. Angels are not singing. Rainbows are not bursting from clouds. There is no light shining like a halo around me. Simply, I am quiet. And that is it’s own miracle. With the rhythm of walking, breathing, being with God and what is true about me, there is a slight and almost imperceptible shift. My frantic movements are not so frantic now. I see things I would have missed.
We tend to pray with words because we aren’t brave enough to pray from our groaning soul ache. And so we chatter away with our Dear God, just…and we miss him in the middle of all. this. noise. He’s still there, though. He doesn’t roll his eyes or cross his arms or tap his foot with impatience. He hears all the chattering and he sees what lies beneath it. Even in the noise, He gathers us up and pours Himself out.
I come home after my walk, cheeks red from the wind, camera filled up with images of hope, soul breathing more deeply. I spent the time listening, but I can’t tell you what I heard, exactly. The language of the soul doesn’t always translate well into English. Instead, I lean my weight heavy into Him, longing to live in the quiet even in the midst of the noise. I know that may not be possible, not the way I hope. But this walk was a gift for reasons I’m not really sure of yet. And for that I am thankful.
We would love to read about your Tuesday walk by inviting you to add your link below. Be sure to include the permalink to your Tuesday post. If you need help to link up, this page will hopefully answer all of your questions. Be sure to link back here to Chatting at the Sky so that others can find our community. If you wrote a regular Tuesdays Unwrapped post, by all means still link up! I’m delighted you are here and so thankful for this community. What a gift these Tuesdays have been. The links will be open to add until Thursday evening.
“longing to live in the quiet even in the midst of the noise”…beautiful, friend. this, my prayer as well.
I’m so glad God is not an eye roller….
Merry Christmas friend!
This is my first time linking up. Found you through Stacey.
thank you for the breath of fresh air!!
You express yourself so well. It’s hard to come up with the words that truly reflect the way this post makes me feel. A deep sigh is all I can manage.
Thank you for the invitation to link up. That walk sounds glorious. A time to slow down and just breathe. Thank you…and Merry Christmas!
I felt like you took me on the walk with you…your words drew me in…your spirit came through this post…blessing and enjoy this Christmas time….
I didn’t go for a walk. Yet. I want to. I crave it.
But, I did simply lie on my couch last night. The tv turned off. The too-big-for-a-lap dog, resting her head on me and snoring, of course. It was a delightful “waste of time,” and though I tried desperately to hear Him and to Know some. thing., the time in itself was beautiful. And so necessary.
Even if it wasn’t a quiet, calm walk I enjoyed slowing down by running and playing with my kids…Thanks for the chance to linkup.
“The language of the soul doesn’t always translate well into English.” I love this. The truth of it used to frustrate me, because I was always a journal-er, and wanted (still want) to etch out the things deep inside into words… but learning to just let it be like that is such a beautiful thing…
“We tend to pray with words because we aren’t brave enough to pray from our groaning soul ache.” Yes!
I realized anew this past week that I still hide behind lists and busyness. The quiet and stillness is so necessary, but requires bravery, requires facing fears and imperfection, requires setting aside my scripted attempt at perfection to just BE.
Emily,
This doesn’t have to do with Tuesdays Unwrapped, nor do I have a link up. But I just wanted to tell you that the other day, I went into our local Lifeway store, and there on the shelf was “Grace for the Good Girl.” It had a prime spot–facing forward, so customers could see the entire cover.
And (this is the weird part) when I saw it, I burst into tears. Right there in the aisle of Lifeway. And no, I did not have PMS.
I don’t know why I had the sudden wave of emotion. I think, because I remember standing in a crowded hotel hallway, listening to you practice your “pitch.” Or because I’ve read each and every post of the writing process and the editing process and the book release process–Maybe because seeing your book there gives this writer hope that one day her book will be there, too.
Anyway, I just wanted to share that with you.
And in case I haven’t told you, I am so very, very proud of you. And I’ve been silently cheering you on from the other side of the computer screen.
Blessings,
Sandy
Thank you for sharing the honesty of your life and your walk. It is a treat, Emily, to see into your soul and know we’re know alone out here in our wandering heaviness!
“even in the midst of the noise He gathers us up and pours himself out” – Yes! so very thankful for that…refreshment and hope for the soul. Thanks for sharing today, Emily.
Just to say, “yes” Emily. Sending you wishes for a blessed Christmas filled with the peace, joy and hope His coming brings.
P.S. I still haven’t figured out how to add my link here, so I will just read and enjoy. I’m so sorry
That’s it.
I must go on an early morning Crimmas walk.
ah, miss emily. you must know how truly this post speaks to me. the only place of solace, of quiet, of God, saturated in real and earth and peace.
i hope you enjoyed your walk.
xo
(merry christmas!)
thank you, emily, for celebrating stillness and quiet.
So sad this is the last one! Tuesdays Unwrapped MAKE me reflect.
Dear Emily,
Just a note to say I appreciate you. Don’t know you at all except through your blog, listening to an interview about your book, and through your book.
I just think sometimes when we are quiet… it is so nice to have someone come along side of us and feel the quiet with us.
God bless you and remember… you are a wonderful writer! Waiting for more….
The prayer, the groaning – it’s not that we’re not brave enough, I think. It’s that we don’t know it’s okay to pray with our souls…
I read on somebody’s twitter earlier that they were thinking maybe their prayers should involve less words. I so get that. I’ve been in a season as of late where most of my time with God consists of quiet. To talk just feels like I’m interrupting something…disturbing the peace if you will.
“The language of the soul doesn’t always translate well into English.” How I love that. Sometimes there just are not words to do justice to God’s peace or His comfort or His…well, His anything. Sometimes His response cannot be verbalized…only felt. And those times are precious – like there’s a connection that words cannot convey. Our heart meets His and there’s just peace.
J
This post calmed me down. Beautifully written and lovely photographs. When I’ve been beyond words with grief before God, I’ve done some moaning and carrying on. It was so much easier than trying to find words that wouldn’t have expressed it anyway.
This was beautiful and I feel as though I’ve taken a walk with you. I wondered if anyone else is having difficulties grabbing your button? My copy and paste buttons won’t work here…