The Stillness Of The Night
Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself. ~Hermann Hesse
There is something reverent about the silence and calmness of the night. I often wake up very early in the morning and the quietness and peace is so profound that I simply sit to take it all in. I notice that even the birds are still sleeping.
As I walk from room to room to check on my children, I stand over their beds and just listen to their calm, rhythmic breathing. It is in their deep sleep that they find the energy yet again, to be fully engaged in all that life offers them. To once again be filled with carefree laughter and joy. To skip and dance as only the innocence of childhood can bring. And to embrace with such purity of love, that one stands but in awe as to how deep into the soul it reaches. How sad it is that many children are deprived of such restful and peaceful nights. A loving thought to all such children, - “Might you be covered with the warmth of God’s loving hand and feel His tender embrace, so that you too may rest peacefully within.”
It is in the stillness of the night, that I find my wholeness again. Stilled from all the chatter, stilled from so much noise, I hear only the silence that the wee hours of the morning can bring. I find rest as I take the time to listen to the wisdom that lies within. I take note that so much of the time, pain could be avoided when those moments of clarity and wisdom are heeded to. You see, I think it is in them that we walk more cautiously and with more care as we participate in life. Only when we carelessly toss the voices of wisdom aside, do we bring so much pain on ourselves. All of us have the ability to reach deep within and allow God to sharpen our vision for the paths that we have chosen.
As I contemplate the silence itself, I am mindful of those who have entered a season of darkness and silence. It will feel to them as if God Himself has removed all presence of divine - such spiritual silence is painful to endure. It can bring depression and grief to such a deep level that it almost feels as though the throat itself has tried up, and there is nothing more to say.
Then, there is death. When a heart is at peace, death is welcomed as the radiance of God’s light will dissolve all pain and fear that has been experienced in this life.
Just before waking my family for the day, I open the door to look out into the garden and I can hear the first twitching of the birds. I take in a deep breath of gratitude for the wonderful stillness of the night.
