This weekend I am visiting a friend in Wilmington. This is the stunning view from her deck in the morning.
I love this tidal creek. Over the course of a day, as the tide moves in and out, the water rises and falls. There are egrets and cormorants and sea eagles. Sometimes soundless paddleboarders float by. When the tide is out, a complicated array of hieroglyphic tracks is revealed, made by hundreds of crabs skittering across the dank mud. When the tide is in, there is the occasional sudden splash of something being pursued, and the undulating shadows of catfish moving beneath the surface.
Being still is not a part of who I am, but when I do stop long enough to breathe, to take in what is around me, I find I crave stillness at such a depth it stuns me.
Today I received a newsletter from Krista Tippett, having followed her On Being Project for many years, from back in the 2000s when she had a radio show called “Speaking of Faith.” I resonated then, as now, with her careful and thoughtful way of asking meaningful questions of the many and varied guests she’s interviewed over the years via her On Being podcast. Physicists and poets, rabbis and atheists. Musicians and artists.
Currently, Krista is engaging in what she is calling “Contemplative Reading,” which sounds like a brilliant way to trick myself into sitting still long enough that it begins to look like something very much akin to *gasp* meditation. So. A way to begin again, to perhaps find my way back — or forward — into the practice of stillness. Because it seems these days that the world roars and whirls around us, and it’s increasingly harder not to get caught up in the breakneck speed of it all.
I’ll let you know how it’s going, and if any of you practice meditation, contemplative silence, stillness, prayer, I’d love to hear what you’ve found helps in your pursuit of that discipline. What works for some may not work for others, but then again it very well may, so please share your wisdom in the comments below.
And…Substack is starting a “chat” feature, which will enable us to have ongoing conversation about certain topics. Would that be of interest to anyone? If so, we might have our first chat be around the practice of stillness and contemplation.
Finally, welcome and thank you to all new subscribers. So lovely to have you aboard! And deep gratitude to those of you who have recently become paid subscribers.
Have a great weekend, everyone! Hoping you find something wonderful to feed your soul.