the beauty of stillness

I pulled myself away from the iphone and my ridiculous addiction to searching on ebay and went to that peaceful hammock between two oak trees.  I laid down and could hear the millions upon millions of leaves stretching over acres to create this rhythmic rustling sound. It was a sound that made an overwhelming sense of peace flow from my head to my bare feet.  When I look up at the vast sky, it's impossible to not feel like a part of something bigger.  To realize that we may be only one piece of this larger-than-life puzzle... but our piece matters because it is part of what completes the picture.

In our day-to-day demands, we sometimes become that furry hamster on the wheel.  We get lost in the humdrum of our normal rhythm and miss the beauty of stillness. 

So take time today to be still.
Take a walk and soak in the turning autumn leaves.
Lay a blanket outside tonight and look up at all those twinkling lights in the sky.
Let nature be your soundtrack.

We'd love to see some of your still moments today.

Picture and words courtesy of Honorary Sister / Guest Blogger Rachel Brooke. For more inspiration, visit her lovely blog.

Comments

[Heather]

Lovely, lovely picture! "Still" is so hard to grab hold of sometimes but priceless. The picture I want to share was snapped on a quiet walk with the family this weekend. We passed this half-blown flower on the side of the path. We all stopped and looked and admired! It may have only been a millisecond of "still" but well worth it.

http://mamamutterings.blogspot.com/2009/11/reflections.html

[Elizabeth Harper]

It is a beautiful picture and it communicates the idea of rest even though you know there must be movement in the bump of a baby belly.

This one is about seeing the connection we all share....

http://giftsofthejourney.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/the-synchronicity-of-it-all/

[Wayfaring Wanderer]

I've been go go go for the past month and I am really looking forward to some weekend stillness myself!



~WW
http://www.wayfaringwanderer.com

[Diane]

I love your photo! I too like to practice stillness but I had to laugh out loud when I read the part of getting a blanket and going outside tonight!!
We have a foot of snow and it's below zero so I'll have to be still inside my dear :)

[Puna]

Home is where my thoughts turn to the most these days. I am grateful for mine!

http://lifesignatures.org/wordpress/2009/10/october-19-coming-home/

[jakki]

I've taken up walking again and the stillness around this lake....takes my breathe away EVERYtime...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/valeenwashington/4077222790/

[cassandra m]

Rachel...YOU ALWAYS MAKE MY HEART SMILE B-I-G! THANK YOU! Your words truly touch the soul and I still think a book is in order....ummmmmmmm. :)))))
PS...most awesome photo!!!!

[cassandra m]

I am LAUGHIN so hard right now....I just went to your BLOG thinking I had missed some BIG News....I thought that pic above was YOU and you were keeping a secret. LOL....oh my gosh. I see it is not you. toooooo funny!

[leaca]

Every summer I have a house guest, a good friend, he is a school teacher. When he comes to visit all he asks is that we do NOTHING while he visits. He just wants to thrift shop, watch movies, and hang out. While he is here he takes daily naps in the hammock. One of my favorite shots is of him in the hammock.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/leacayoung/3682098159/

[renee @ FIMBY]

Lots of still moments enjoying these golden days of early November
http://fimby.tougas.net/golden-days-of-early-november

[elk]

oh you are singing my song today...I am amazed how often a post "fits" with the thoughts here:

http://www.redorgray.com/2009/11/e-l-e-m-e-n-t-l.html

[traceyclark]

i've been digging through archives and found this one which i just love. i though it was fitting.
http://www.traceyclark.com/blog/2009/11/5/little-cloud.html
thanks so much rachel for joining us today! what a pleasure.

[Toni | Daily Vignette]

This seems to be a recurring theme on multiple blogs right now. We lead such busy lives that it is important to remember to enjoy moments of stillness. I've got nothing right now - life has been too busy.

[Vanessa]

stillness. oh yeah. i need me some of that! i reckon this would be as good a place as any to start: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/4049769288/

[rockwall rocks!]

I think God understands this lack of rest and stillness, two verses come to mind, Jesus said,"Come to me and I will give you Rest", and God told the Psalmist,"Be STILL and know that I am God". It is in those moments of "stillness of Soul", that we are most likely to hear the whisper of God.

[Trude]

All of a sudden last week, while taking a moment to enjoy the backyard, I realized the chrysanthemums had POPPED. Lovely. :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/trudem/4077685747/

[Julia]

Finding the quiet in the loud is something that I struggle with on a daily basis.

Starting the day on the right foot helps though.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/julesinsearch/4002523452/

A bit of reading, yogurt, oats and fruit.

PS I loved this post, so pretty and thoughful.