There are times when the classroom would get roudy and loud. Just a natural progression of sound level as each child tried to be heard over the rising noise around them. Especially when there were exciting details to discuss! And there were teachers that would roar above the din to order silence and regain our attention.
And there were others who would quietly stand, waiting for us to notice that we hadn't heard their voice for a while. They might just place their hand on their head. And one by one, the students would quietly drop into their seats and place their hands there also - as a wave of recognition of purpose swept the room. And with a quiet voice, the teacher would resume their lesson. These teachers had learnt that they were not going to fight against the chaos, but would wait quietly for our focus. And when we were still, we could begin to learn again.
Our minds are abuzz from the moment we awake - with checklists and memories and analyses. We are constantly trying to figure life out and get it done. And with many of us, it's a constant running to put out fires! Never quite getting to the focused life sorting we hope to do.
Maybe that's why God is the "still, small voice". (1 Kings 19:11-13) And we are told to "Be still and know that I am God". (Psalm 46:10) Because he is that teacher with the quiet voice we need to stop and listen for. And it's only in the being still that we can hear him.
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