Peace and Quiet

I've written before about the value of quiet and stillness. Today, as I walked from the outdoor laundry room back to my little home, I stopped for just a moment to stand in the sun and be conscious of the beauty around me. It's not fancy or anything, just a collection of plants in pots, some nice-smelling mulch, and several overgrown mint bushes. It was the stillness of that little patch of yard that drew me in. I took notice of the rusty old lanterns sitting on concrete blocks, and the way the sun glinted off the old mason jar sitting next to them. You can really find beauty in anything. 

I thought about the cat that used to live on our property, and how much I miss hearing her little jingle bell as she wandered about the yard. I thought about the chickens we used to have, and how much I miss their clucking (and eggs!). I asked God to fill me with His peace as I stood in the sun. I have had a lot of worries on my mind lately. All kinds of things.

Immediately, I began to feel better. It wasn't perfectly quiet; the traffic just a few feet away was still rumbling by. But in intervals I was able to hear the songbirds too. And the lack of human voices and music was a relief to my ears. I had classical music playing earlier while I cleaned house, but once finished I yearned for quiet. 

I know that we must cultivate the ability to be at peace even when we are surrounded my noise. It's not always possible to sit in stillness. Even my mind has been a flurry of activity, quite "loud" between my ears. I wonder how it is that my husband, who deals with traffic and people all day long, can stand to listen to such harsh music as he does during his off hours. If I were him, I would want either silence or peaceful music. 

Soon I am going to go for a walk. I finished my chores early today. I usually take my exercise in the afternoon, but my legs are itching for some movement. I want to keep the momentum going after the busy-ness of cleaning house. First, some tea. And peace and quiet.