Henri Nouwen was a man of faith who once wrote this about the winter solstice (Advent):
“This time of year I feel a growing stillness in myself…”
I felt a strong connection to that phrase: a growing stillness. As an extravert who has to speak in order to know what she is thinking, I can talk up a storm any time of the year! A growing stillness would be a miracle for me.
I thought, suppose I tried to be and speak or teach or write out of that growing stillness! Suppose I turned off the computer and the TV and the radio and my spinning brain and sat by the fire in quiet, enjoying the growing stillness. 
I want to discover what kind of woman, and what kind of teaching or writing or speaking would emerge from that joy!
- I would wait more (why am I talking . . . W-A-I-T ).
- I would wake later and later, sleeping 9 – 10 hours.
- I would engage with the water as I swim each morning without looking at the clock, swimming till I was done!
- I would walk my cocker spaniel, Sandy, each morning (bundle up, it is cold out there!).
- I would write my e-mails in Word and paste them into an email, so I can read them before they go off!
Wake, wait, water, walk, write.
Out of a growing stillness.
And you?
A quote from Sister Stan:
“A life that is too busy,distracted and unfocused kills the power of imagination.
If we cannot be still,if we cannot come to ourselves in silence,then we lose the power to imagine,and if we cannot imagine and dream,then we will never be able to realize what we desire…”
Hi Jane,
I love your stove ! I remember when I was a student walking around with a book by Eric Fromm in my pocket,it looked real cool! I can’t remember the name of the book,it dealt with the alienation of man and I couldn’t make head nor tail of it. Then somewhere in the middle of the book he gave an example or flicking the switch on our central heating compared to chopping logs and lighting our own fire.
I then understood for the first time what he was on about. Since then I love stoves and light one each day in the winter months.( Not because of Fromm I just love fires and stoves (:
I just hope Jane that YOU chopped those logs ! !
Happy Christmas.
I have learned in my 50′s that life is precious. Why you say,am I just getting this concept? I am a Christian and thought I knew what this fact meant,but it was only top layer deep.
Just as Robert said,as we stop to wait,wait,wait,and listen,God has a message to my heart.
Jane,my waiting comes in the form of knowing after 28 years of teaching,I don’t have to “know”it all. A matter of fact,I now realize at 52,I don’t know it all. I can sit and patiently listen to the younger teachers telling me of the wonderful new way of teaching.
I dare not tell her I have the worksheets for that…lol
I can respect the younger teachers and allow them to be them. I can really enjoy my students because I know how to connect with them.
Yes,my waiting comes in the solitude of building my efficacy through teaching.
Thank you Jane for the wonderful thoughts. I also have learned to check my emails. lol
Working as I do with fresh produce (and the workers who actually have their hands on it),I am reminded of the beauty of growing things,and the beauty of pausing to be grateful before we eat. That moment of stillness grounds us,whether before a meal,before a training session,or in a moment of conflict. I will continue to work on my stillness skills!
Thank you all and Jane for starting this thought-full exchange.
My friend and long time collaborator in spiritual learning,Forrest Green,taught me a long time ago about the ‘Still small dance”. As we were guided by his improvisational music,we got still,very still,quiet,and reflective as we went deep inside to allow our spirit center to guide us in small or large movements. We danced from this place of stillness. We truly were guided to movement by our inner stillness. What a joy it is!!!
Thank you Jane for reminding me of my still small dance.
Thank you Robert,Lydie and Peter for your reflections here. I love “the silence of my heart”and “the best sharing moments”and the whole of the TS Eliot poem,that stillness is not “fixity”,rather it is an active place. And yes,what a great place to facilitate from,that still point:calm,indeed.
Your “growing stillness”reminds me of these lines from my favourite poem,T.S. Eliot’s Four Quarters. This is from Burnt Norton:
“At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless;
Neither from nor towards;at the still point,there the dance is,
But neither arrest nor movement. And do not call it fixity,
Where past and future are gathered. Neither movement from nor towards,
Neither ascent nor decline. Except for the point,the still point,
There would be no dance,and there is only the dance.
I can only say,there we have been:but I cannot say where.”
I have sometimes been complemented for being a calm facilitator in the face of conflict or confusion. It is this “still point”that orients me. Then…wait and water.
Merry Christmas Lydie,Bob,and Jane!
Peter Noteboom
Amen Jane…this has been something on my heart and mind as I come to the close of another year and begin to contemplate my posture for 2012. A practice that developed this past year,and one I plan on continuing into the coming year,is the discipline of writing haiku as a way to pay attention,reflect,and bring the stillness of those moments into the classroom. I am finding that these brief moments bring so much life and lead me into an awareness of the beauty,truth,and goodness that surrounds me ~ this in turn allows me to enter into dialogue with my students in a way that invites an attentiveness to what is happening around us. If any are interested,I have them posted here:http://dthaase-lines.blogspot.com/p/haiku.html
Thank you Jane for sharing your feelings and blessings with all the ‘Global Learning Partnership’!
This stillness brings deep peace to my heart and humility! It also reminds me of my being a limited human being,so the need to share,support and love each other becomes more and more obvious.
In this Holy Season period,I just wish to ‘all of us’the best sharing moments in life,with oneself,with family,with neighbors,communities,partners and everyone we will be meeting on the way………..
Peace be unto you! Blessed and prosperous New Year!
I am sure that the lessons which Jane speaks of would be very helpful to many of us as teachers. However,I believe that the quote from Nouwen actually speaks of something more profound which should not be lost. In Living in Hope,Nouwen says,“Advent leads to a growing inner stillness and joy allowing me to realize that he for whom I wait has already arrived and speaks to me in the silence of my heart.” As teachers and students,Jesus is speaking to us. No reason for us to wait to listen.