Song of the Wood Thrush: Part Two

As I listened for the wood thrush in the woods, my soul settled down. I heard God say: “Be still, Dear One.  Just be still.”  By God’s grace, I quieted my soul.  I focused on the moment, the bird song, and the breeze amidst the leaves.Quieting my soul in that manner is as important as breathing to me.  How often do I move through the busyness of a day, only to realize I have been holding my breath? At some random moment, a deep sigh will whoosh out of me, making me aware I have held my stress in and forgotten about breathing.  For me to relax physically and emotionally, I have to keep breathing in and out, deliberately, deeply, letting go of my lungs’ carbon dioxide and filling up with oxygenated air.For me to relax spiritually, I also have to keep breathing, spiritually-speaking.  But this entails consciousness of the Holy Spirit’s presence.   Specifically, I must breath out any toxins  lingering in me, you might say “poisonous fumes”,— like feelings of frustration, un-forgiveness, or fear.  Then I need to breath in God’s Spirit, deliberately with a prayer, like  “God: Be my Master; let me be Your slave.”  In that inhaling breath, inner peace flows in and God’s divine love flows out.Quieting my soul requires living in the moment, embracing the sounds, sights, and feelings of what is right around me. Being in the moment is a focused discipline on NOW.  When I do otherwise, and rush ahead in mental time, I fail to hear the wood thrush’s song.  I fail to hear the voice of God because I have broken my connection with the Great I Am. Any chance for peace alludes me.   In Isaiah 30:15 the Lord said, “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved.  In quietness and confidence is your strength.”Let the wood thrush and her beautiful song remind you to live in the NOW.