"When you rest in quietness and your image of yourself fades, and your image of the world fades, and your ideas of others fade, what's left? A brightness, a radiant emptiness that is simply what you are." Adyashanti
Lately I have been thinking more about Jesus Christ and the attributes that make one more like him. One that has stood out to me lately is stillness. When you think of stillness what do you think of? I think of humility, the ability to listen, to stand quietly and observe. If you take time to observe children, often they want badly to be the center of attention. Not all of them are this way. Some kids grow out of it. Some don't. I like being the center of attention, having people listen to what I'm saying and react appropriately. I like making people laugh, knowing it was something I said or did that made them happy. But lately, I have been trying more and more to just sit back, to observe, to listen and be still.
I like bright clothing, bright tights and mismatched earrings. Lately, I have been finding my desire for these things waning. These objects set me apart, drew attention to me. I don't really care for that anymore. It is interesting to me the experiences we have as children of God that lead to out growth and change. You never have experiences realizing how they'll change you. During experiences we can never say, "Oh this will change me." We may say this is teaching me patience, but we never know it's going to. When it says, "And we glory in tribulation," in Romans 5, I think we glory in tribulation because it changes us. We have many experiences in life, many set backs and leaps, many faith building or faith crushing happenings. This is called Existence. It is the whole reason we come to this earth: to be tested, to grow, to change, and to be perfected - one tiny step at a time.
I live in the country, which means there isn't much to do. One of the things I like about this is I have a lot of time to simply think. I like thinking about the person I used to be. If I look back a month, a year, multiple years I can see so many changes. They happen gradually and so often they come as the price of hard experience. When I am still, when I take time to listen, the Spirit whispers to me. It speaks to me easier in the soft whispers of one who knows the recipient of their directions is listening and willing to act. That last part is crucial. In 2nd Nephi 2:14 it states "...There is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon." In his talk entitled "Watching with all Perseverance," Elder David A Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles states, "As children of our Heavenly Father, we have been blessed with the gift of moral agency, the capacity and power of independent action. Endowed with agency, we are agents, and we primarily are to act and not merely be acted upon—especially as we “seek learning … by study and also by faith” (D&C 88:118). As gospel learners, we should be “doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22). Our hearts are opened to the influence of the Holy Ghost as we properly exercise agency and act in accordance with correct principles—and we thereby invite His teaching and testifying power."
Bednar states that our hearts are opened to the influence of the and we invite his teaching when we show that we will act at his direction. When we show the Holy Ghost that we are willing to follow him, it is more likely that we will receive direction. Part of showing him our willingness, is showing him our stillness. If we are quiet and still we are better prepared to receive revelation. I'm okay not being the center of attention, not only becomes it makes it easier for me to receive heavenly revelation, it also makes me a calmer presence. Wouldn't you rather have someone around you who is calm and listening to you rather than a rambunctious individual who is seeking your attention?
"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience. And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5:3-5)
"Therefore, let your heart be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God" (D/C 101:16)
Lately I have been thinking more about Jesus Christ and the attributes that make one more like him. One that has stood out to me lately is stillness. When you think of stillness what do you think of? I think of humility, the ability to listen, to stand quietly and observe. If you take time to observe children, often they want badly to be the center of attention. Not all of them are this way. Some kids grow out of it. Some don't. I like being the center of attention, having people listen to what I'm saying and react appropriately. I like making people laugh, knowing it was something I said or did that made them happy. But lately, I have been trying more and more to just sit back, to observe, to listen and be still.
I like bright clothing, bright tights and mismatched earrings. Lately, I have been finding my desire for these things waning. These objects set me apart, drew attention to me. I don't really care for that anymore. It is interesting to me the experiences we have as children of God that lead to out growth and change. You never have experiences realizing how they'll change you. During experiences we can never say, "Oh this will change me." We may say this is teaching me patience, but we never know it's going to. When it says, "And we glory in tribulation," in Romans 5, I think we glory in tribulation because it changes us. We have many experiences in life, many set backs and leaps, many faith building or faith crushing happenings. This is called Existence. It is the whole reason we come to this earth: to be tested, to grow, to change, and to be perfected - one tiny step at a time.
I live in the country, which means there isn't much to do. One of the things I like about this is I have a lot of time to simply think. I like thinking about the person I used to be. If I look back a month, a year, multiple years I can see so many changes. They happen gradually and so often they come as the price of hard experience. When I am still, when I take time to listen, the Spirit whispers to me. It speaks to me easier in the soft whispers of one who knows the recipient of their directions is listening and willing to act. That last part is crucial. In 2nd Nephi 2:14 it states "...There is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon." In his talk entitled "Watching with all Perseverance," Elder David A Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles states, "As children of our Heavenly Father, we have been blessed with the gift of moral agency, the capacity and power of independent action. Endowed with agency, we are agents, and we primarily are to act and not merely be acted upon—especially as we “seek learning … by study and also by faith” (D&C 88:118). As gospel learners, we should be “doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22). Our hearts are opened to the influence of the Holy Ghost as we properly exercise agency and act in accordance with correct principles—and we thereby invite His teaching and testifying power."
Bednar states that our hearts are opened to the influence of the and we invite his teaching when we show that we will act at his direction. When we show the Holy Ghost that we are willing to follow him, it is more likely that we will receive direction. Part of showing him our willingness, is showing him our stillness. If we are quiet and still we are better prepared to receive revelation. I'm okay not being the center of attention, not only becomes it makes it easier for me to receive heavenly revelation, it also makes me a calmer presence. Wouldn't you rather have someone around you who is calm and listening to you rather than a rambunctious individual who is seeking your attention?
"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience. And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5:3-5)
"Therefore, let your heart be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God" (D/C 101:16)
Comments