Out of the Beehive

"We need to get out of the beehive and go back to the grove."

I saw that quote along with a plea for help finding the source to cite for it yesterday.  And I like it!  So of course, I followed the discussion that proceeded.  So far no source, but there are some intriguing thoughts in checking the leads that I want to explore a little deeper today into the symbolized industry of a beehive and contemplative peace of the Sacred Grove (or any grove of trees, really).  Getting ready for Church this morning I listened to a podcast from All In about living a more mindful LDS lifestyle.  Meditation and deeper mindfulness are things I'm trying to incorporate as I rebuild my life and, honestly, I haven't exactly figured out how to do either of them.  Yet.

This podcast took an interesting approach when the participants spoke about what can appear to be opposing commandments.  Yes, they are telling us to do different things but I think they might apply to different times in our lives, or maybe even different times during a single day, to provide us with a sense of balance.

"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;  For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward."  D&C 58:27-28

"Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God."  D&C 101:16

 Latter-day Saints often quote the phrase "anxiously engaged in a good cause" when speaking about the good things we do in the world:  missionary work, disaster relief, etc.  Indeed, our faith is a very active one.  We look at Jesus as our example of going about doing good.  We love the stories of His teaching and preaching and healing and blessing the people around him and strive to do the same ourselves.  But, I think, we tend to skip over the dozen-ish recorded times that he retreated from the crowds and busy-ness to be alone with Himself and pray... to be still and commune with His Father; to rest and be refreshed in quiet solitude.

If we are willing to look to Him to show us how to be busy, should we not also look to Him learn how to rest?

In the April 1967 Priesthood Session of General Conference, David O. McKay said, "I think we pay too little attention to the value of meditation, a principle of devotion. In our worship, there are two elements: One is spiritual communion arising from our own meditation; the other, instruction from others, particularly from those who have authority to guide and instruct us. Of the two, the more profitable introspectively is meditation."  Farther into the address, he continued, "Meditation is one of the most secret, most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the Lord."

That last sentence really caught my attention!

"Meditation is one of the most secret, most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the Lord."

Definitely, meditation is something I need to learn more about!

Thomas Wirthlin McConkie spoke to the power of meditation in an interview a couple of years ago.  He said his meditation practice had given him a greater understanding of and appreciation for the Atonement. The act of sitting perfectly still and purposefully quieting your mind will bring up hidden thoughts within you, most probably of what is painful in your life and it forces you to make friends with that pain and learn whatever it was supposed to teach you.  That takes away it's negative power and its sting.  And the process of doing it acquaints you with the Lord in a whole different way as it gives you a glimpse of how He sat in the depths of human suffering and that makes it a little more relatable.

I pondered on this idea especially during the opening hymn, Nearer My God to Thee, at Stake Conference this morning.  The third verse begins:

There let the way appear,

Steps unto heav’n;

All that thou sendest me,

In mercy giv’n;

Maybe meditation is a gift He's given us to process the horrible things that life throws at us and progress above the struggles.  Stake President, Tim Harrast, made an especially appropriate comment in his address.  He was talking about Matthew 11:28-30 as an invitation to join Him in doing His work... and His work is us!

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Seeking Stillness

You may have noticed that I've been pretty quiet the past few days.

I wish I could tell you in that time I've found that sense of mindful stillness we all seek occasionally to unwind from the cares the world thrusts at us.  I wish I could say I'd been able to meditate and just be still for awhile.  But that wouldn't be true at all.  Mind and body have been far from still.

We heard back from the seller that the chimney isn't posing any threat to the structural integrity of the house and he agreed to make the repairs we asked for so all systems are GO on the house-buying front.  That's comforting and stressful all at the same time.  We have another walk through to be sure all is truly okay sometime this coming week.

And with that news I've been hard at work scraping together enough nickels to complete the transaction.  This has been a major stress but I am trying my best to trust that the universe holds abundance for me.  And it seems to be coming together just in the nick of time for our scheduled March 22 closing date.

If I could land a job in the next few days life would be complete.

Or at least back on track.

For all the great plans Derek and I made, not a single one has come to fruition in the way we thought.  The path has been long and winding with twists and turns I couldn't have ever foreseen.  Several times the goal has been in sight only to be seemingly yanked out of reach.  It's been hard to not get completely disheartened.

So I think it's safe to say life has been far from peaceful.

Not that it's been all bad.  There's been many moments of happiness, too.  We've worked together to accomplish a lot.

I'd call it chaotic bliss.

But still I seek that calm, that only comes in the moments when you can truly settle your mind and simply be still.  Maybe after we move and unpack and...

At Church, one of my favorite hymns is Be Still, My Soul.  It was written by Katharina von Schlegel (who was born in 1697!) and translated by Jane Borthwick.  Yes, it's a very old hymn.  But I'm Mormon and we tend to like the old hymns...

Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side;
With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

If you'd like to hear it sung by Alex Boye' click here and just relax while you look at this picture of one of my favorite happy places.  I like to escape to Swan Valley's summer sunrises, even if it's only in my mind, when the stress gets to be a bit much. This is just how I picture "my private Idaho!"

Photo:  Swan Valley Sunrise by my childhood friend, Dana Mallard.
Connect with him on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/DanaMallardPhotography