Do you have a "little boat"?

 

What do you do when life threatens to overwhelm you?

In Mark 3:4-17 we find Jesus being pressed and pushed by the crowd that followed him everywhere, even at the beach where he had gone for some “alone time”, the crowd follows. He instructs his disciples to prepare a “little boat” for him to be in and prevent the crowd overwhelming him in their need.  The devotional asked, “Do you have a little boat?”[1]  When life presses in and the multitude voices of need, demand, urgency, even the voices in our head, press in, do you have a place of solitude to go to?  Do you know how to find a quiet place to meet with God?

During lockdown number five I have returned to a spiritual discipline or practice I learned many years ago – the art of being with God in silence and solitude.  By intentionally creating space in my day to sit in silence, in quiet alone with God allows the multitude of internal thoughts, voices, inner demands and strivings to settle.  It creates the opportunity to be fully with God, to be fully loved, fully present to hear the “still small voice of God”.  Jesus practiced solitude often. He withdrew from the crowds, from his friends and he looked for quiet, still places – mountain tops, pre-dawn walks, wildernesses.  Why?  He knew, that when he was still, he would find and know God. (Psalm 46:10)

One of the great gifts that lockdown can give us, is to slow down our regular busy lives and create opportunities to climb into the little boat.  It may be a slow walk around your neighbourhood, a chair outside, a couch, a quiet cup of coffee where you can close the door, turn all the noise and distraction off and just be.

It takes me a long time to still the internal noise.  It takes practice, but when I do and when I consistently turn up to take my place “in my little boat” (actually it’s the couch) an exchange takes place – where deep calls out to deep. The depths of my soul meet the depths of God’s love.

Silence makes us ready for a new meeting with God. In silence, God’s word can reach the hidden corners of our heart. In silence, it proves to be ‘sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit (Heb 4:12). In silence, we stop hiding before God, and the light of Christ can reach and heal and transform even what we are ashamed of.”[2]

Jesus withdrew often so that he could meet the needs of the crowds that followed.  Jesus gained strength, direction and power from being alone, still and silent.  In our noisy, cluttered, busy world this seems a luxury, even a waste of time, but I believe it is an ancient spiritual practise we need to use frequently. Anxiety, stress, depression, anger, and deep inner turmoil are as much a pandemic as any covid virus assaulting us. This is a practice that will help bring healing to our own soul, so that we may in turn help others.

Gary Haugen is the director of International Justice Mission, an international law firm who seek to release captives around the world from human trafficking, bonded labour and other violent oppressions. His staff engage in 30 minutes of silence at the beginning of each day. Why? Gary believes transformed people bring transformation.  “…the choice to pursue daily stillness has the potential, to be, perhaps more than anything else, the very crucible for the world-altering transformation every Christ-following leader is longing for.” [3]

So back to my question. Do you have “a little boat”?  When lockdown is over and our activity, noise and busyness start up again – may I suggest you will need to find that “little boat” often.

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[1] Lectio 365 – devotional by Jill Weber

[2] from a feature article  titled “the value of silence” as printed in Encounter with God, SU

[3] Quoted from the forward by Gary Haugen in "Strengthening the Soul of your Leadership" by Ruth Haley Barton © 2018, Inter Varsity Press