Meditation

Stillness comes to each of us differently. Our desire must be to honor our inner stillness. This honoring of stillness increases with meditation, awareness and practice.

Stillness is found in many places. It begins within you. Sometimes people find stillness in churches, in their homes, or on the dance floor. Stillness can be found anywhere, even on a keyboard.

Stillness can come to us at any time: In the morning, in the summer, in a conversation or while cooking. Stillness can come to us while we are doing things: Writing, hunting, playing sports, meditating, praying or even making love. Stillness is always with us.

Stillness waits for our awareness of its presence.

Surfers have said they find stillness waiting for the next wave to come. Sitting in the vastness of the ocean, it is hard not to feel the magnitude and power of the sea, something that is much bigger than us.

Hunters tell of the stillness they feel in the woods, of their connections to the animals and the trees, of becoming one with all of their surroundings and that their kill is often a spiritual journey. It is a journey that provides for their family. In Native American tradition, it is recognized as an honorable death.

My father told me of extraordinary things that happened to him in the Vietnam War, of fearlessly profound moments where his life was saved over and over again with no explanation, except that he had obeyed that stillness that resided with him and lead him through the war.

We have witnessed the stillness that comes in an emergency or crisis. Time slows down, people's words and actions become lucid and precise. People collaborate effortlessly reading each other's minds and providing what is needed in an orchestrated divinity to resolve the crisis to the best of their ability. I came upon an accident once and I saw the police and firefighters work in this manner. Stillness, training and humanity working together in unison, to create miracles and to save lives.

My best teachers of meditation have been children. Their ability to intuit when and where stillness lies has brought me much joy. For a week, I had been taking the children to meditate under a beautiful tree I had found. On our last day together, the children came to me and to my surprise said "Miss Tonya, this tree is dead. Can we please go to another tree?" I said "Sure," and the children took me to the most beautiful, vibrant tree I have ever seen. The tree overflowed with life and vibrancy. The children became even more joyful, and expressive and we spent the afternoon playing in it.

Where and when do you experience your stillness?

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46.10