SEPTEMBER 8-14: “Be Still and Know That I Am God”
Come Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants 98-101
Be still. That can be a hard thing to do. I envy those who can find stillness through meditation, a skill I sorely lack.
I can find stillness, however, in music. As music therapists will acclaim, the tempo of my heart can be brought to match the tempo of a song, to energize or to calm.
Today's focus is to find calm, stillness, hope and peace that comes in trusting in the hand of the divine, not just through our belief in someone more than ourselves, but also in knowing that the divine is in us, and believes in us.
Be Still My Soul - Eclipse
Jeremiah 29:11 reads, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Here is a promise that God is looking out for us; that despite our difficulties, he'll see to it that things will work out for our good. Wow! Our job is to wait on the Lord, hold on the faith that He has us in His hands.
Going to church with our cousins of other Christian faiths teaches me one thing over many others: their worship through music rocks a whole lot more than in my home congregation! Where our choir is a group of singers in four-part harmony with piano accompaniment, their 'choir' is literally a rock band complete with drums, electric guitar, and vocalist on a hand-mic. I feel the spirit alive in both! (although I secretly wish that my home worship was some melding of the two.)
I often don't share from these kinds of selections in spite of how I enjoy the music. The songs tend to focus on worship and praise - a good thing, but doesn't often fit into my weekly theme. So I'm happy to share this from James Wilson.
Wait on the Lord - James Wilson (feat. Brooke Staten)
Psalm 40:1 says. "I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry".
D&C 98 teaches further that in "waiting patiently on the Lord, ... prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth," (or Hosts.) We are told to "renounce war and proclaim peace."
Some of you might remember the years of the "Cold War" of the 1950s through 1980s, which referred mostly to relationships between Communist and Democratic countries, neither of which were eager to start another world war. As children, we were taught the evils of the 'other' and to fear them, to prepare for a time when a bomb might hit, to set up walls between us, not unlike the wall that divided the city of Berlin.
Then the Berlin Wall came down! What a blessed day!
I feel like, in most respects, we have been able to move from the suspicions and hatred the Cold War taught, yet sadly there are other Cold Wars happening. Can we please get beyond them already?
“Cold War” A Song for Peace - Rob Georg Music
Where do our efforts for peace begin? If they don't begin from within and with divine help, how can we ever find it?
Frank Ticheli beautifully invites that in our Mother Earth we can find refuge from the pains that cry out from war, be filled with music and the singing of peace. You can find other artist's recordings of this song, but Jess Lai Mieritz offers the lyrics.
Earth Song by Frank Ticheli - Jess Lai Mieritz
May we all find some success in our search and efforts for peace.