“If we are going to live appropriately in the creation we must keep the Sabbath.
We must stop running around long enough to see what he has done and is doing.
We must shut up long enough to hear what he has said and is saying.
All our ancestors agree that without silence and stillness
there is no spirituality, no God-attentive, God-responsive life.”
~Eugene Peterson in Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places
Clear out the clutter.
Cultivate solitude.
Cultivate silence.
Cultivate wonder.
What clutter do you need to clear out in order to cultivate more wonder today?
In the stillness,
Sandy
Welcome to the Still Saturday Community where we pause after a busy week, move in quiet pilgrimage, maybe linger a while in some still place, and soak in the beauty of images and reflect on the depth of sparse words. We’d love for you to join us. Grab the button and link up below. We all love to hear if something especially speaks to your heart, but please don’t feel pressured to comment. Simply take some time to be still together, to gaze long and drink deep.
Serene photos and comforting words. Happy weekend!
Lux recently posted..The Magic Of Internet And Coupons
Happy weekend to you, too, dear Lux.
As usual, ya dun good. And you made me smile and smile and smile some more. I LOVED this!! Thank you for sharing it. Blessings…
You make me smile, Joanne.
Wish I could clear the clutter…but the clock is running, and there are thing that have to be done. Things HE suggested.
What the heck. I’ll rest when I’m dead.
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser recently posted..Your Dying Spouse 58 – Celebrate Celibacy {FMF}
Well, you definitely need to “shut up” and listen to HIM. 🙂 Sending hugs to you, Andrew.
Stunning pictures, but what I’m really coming away with is the realization that I have a Eugene Peterson deficit. Thanks for his words this morning — they always turn my focus toward God.
Michele Morin recently posted..Finding Abundance in the Shadow of Death
LOL, Michele. I’m glad I could feed you a little Peterson appetizer today. 🙂
Don’t you love sandhill cranes and their little red caps?
Silence and solitude are my love language, so I fully embrace this quote.
Have a wonderful weekend, beautiful friend.
Patricia @ Pollywog Creek recently posted..Still Saturday::when you sense trouble and evil…
It’s only been in the last couple years or so that they’ve showed up in our fields–or that I’ve actually noticed them. They are too funny. And their call is so distinctive.
A beautiful weekend to you, too, dear Patricia.
Thanks so much for sharing this place–I almost don’t even want to type..the sound of my keys breaks the stillness of my home at this moment…
I uploaded 2 links and am enjoying “walking through”
Bless you so much!
Love from Holland,
Jasmine
I’m so glad to see you here today, Jasmine. I’m looking forward to tiptoeing into your shares. (Is Holland as in the Netherlands?)
Yes, Sandra, The Netherlands–thanks for welcoming me!
*and can I just share, when I saw your name there was a bit of glare or fading or something and I thought I read: “He’s Shaking” which is so cool if I think about the wind blowing the leaves of an aspen….
Love to you,
Jasmine
“He’s Shaking.” That’s pretty cool. 🙂
We have some dear friends in the Netherlands. My parents “met” them on line many years ago, and they’ve visited the States several times. My mom is gone now, but they still do remote computer work for my dad–and they have all kinds of cameras set up in their house (except their bedroom), so my dad can “visit” them (or their chicken houses) any time. 🙂 Personally, I prefer my privacy, but it works for them. 😉
Your pictures are beautiful. They make me want to take my camera and go on a search for the stillness you speak of. Thank you Sandra and blessings to you dear one.
Patti
Patricia Krank recently posted..A Cup of Coffee & a Heart-to-Heart
Morning, Patti! Have camera will travel…
The crane(s) and the deer just appeared. I just happened to have my eyes in gear and my camera in hand. 😉
Hugs to you.
Love that phrase “live appropriately.” So true and powerful. Gorgeous photos, Sandra! Thank you for the quiet contemplation. 🙂
Jason Stasyszen recently posted..Not without Purpose
Maybe you could preach a sermon on that. Or write a song. 😉
That’s just what I did today. Cleared out lots of papers from writers’ conferences. Why do I keep them? I never get a chance to look at them again.
Thanks for hosting,
Blessings
Janis
Janis Cox recently posted..Sunday Stillness Link – Man it’s dark
I have a bunch of the same. I need to do the same.
Lovely, lovely – in every way. LOVE the photos. And that quintet by Peterson (of which this book is the first) is on my top ten list, for sure. Thanks, Sandy.
Diana Trautwein recently posted..Learning to Bend — A Post for Amber Haines
😀 😀
Beautiful photos, Sandra! You’ve reminded me of how quiet and still we have to be to get wildlife photos. Shouldn’t I be even more willing to be quiet and still when the prize is hearing His voice?
Constance Morrison recently posted..But what if you fly?
Funny thing about those deer and crane photos. They were by the side of the road. I got out of the car to take the photos. Didn’t seem to bother them a bit. But still is usually better. And yes… it’s pretty hard to hear the best prize if we don’t quiet ourselves.
Your photos are just beautiful! And Eugene Peterson’s words are stirring. Grateful to have stopped here this morning. Have a blessed Sunday!
Joanne Viola recently posted..Never Forgotten. Always Loved.
Hugs to you, Joanne.