"Stillness is Hard" from 12-31-17

Stillness is hard.
Hard for me at least.
For my college years, training in music, working in a music store and part time at a church as the minister of music, I was always practicing, preparing, catching the beat, teaching the next lesson. Providence brought me to a career turn I could’ve never imagined. My dad worked in sales over most of his adult life, in various capacities. In 1998 he introduced me to his company at the time and I started doing his kind of work.
No skill.
No prior experience.
Just enough sense to do what I was told. Now I’m nearly 20 years into this sales career that is absolutely straight commission, in the best sense, and I love it.
It, too, however, doesn’t contribute to Stillness. If you don’t get-after-it and produce-all-the-time, you’ll have no moola next week, no bonus next quarter.
It’s that simple.

Today, New Years Eve 2017, Sunday, I’m at home nursing myself back to health after a head cold jumped me Thursday evening. My kids have been fighting it. A client or two last week also had plenty of germs covering their skin when we shook hands. It’s just part of the gig. All that to say, I’ve been laying low, medicating with decongestants, vitamins and essential oils for days while resting, even napping, and being fairly...Still.

Stillness.

But...
There are debts to pay—so you better get to work hard Tuesday, Joal.
There are house projects to fix, complete, remodel—so you better make that list.
There are receipts to tabulate so taxes can be filed soon enough—so you better clear the table and get cracking.
And on and on it goes.

Apple Music has this “For You” tab that daily assembles playlists based on your library profile preferences. As I’m typing this, I’m listening to today’s “Chill Mix”. Honestly, it’s a bit too poppy for me. It’s not exactly chillin-me-out. Hold on a second.

There.
I just opened today’s jazz playlist.
Ah...,Better.
“Tokyo Adagio” by Haden & Rubalcaba

Stillness.

I’m determining today that 2018 will have many-more-intentional-moments of Stillness, where I turn every device off, Jazz included, and let whatever naturally occurring sounds be the only thing filtering through.

As a believer, I take the Scripture verse literally that God, as Spirit, speaks to his children in a Still Small Voice. I need that voice, that Word, that direction, even that warning. I’m realizing I need it Daily.

And 2017 taught me in a myriad of ways that there is great benefit in Stillness.
Quiet.
Thinking.
Reading.
Resting.
Observing.
Being....Still.
Practicing being still.

I’ll take more decongestant in a few hours.
I’ll read a bit more later.
By the way, “Tokyo Adagio” is apparently a live record, but the audience is so Still, I didn’t realize it until track 2 or 3.
I’ll keep resting on the couch.

Stillness.