San Diego First United Methodist Church In Real Life for Thursday, 10 July 2014 "In Search of Still Waters" by Reverend Greg LaDue

San Diego First United Methodist Church In Real Life for Thursday, 10 July 2014 "In Search of Still Waters" by Reverend Greg LaDue
In Search of Still Waters
Perhaps the best known passage of the scripture is John 3:16. But I would wager that this passage comes close: “He restores my soul” Psalm 23:3. We hear this mainly in the context of the entire first three verses. “The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters …he restores my soul.”
Lately I have been doing a good deal of thinking and learning about the “soul”, frankly my soul has been weary. It led me to consider the difference between “spirit” and “soul”. But I'll come back to that at another time.
Right now my soul needs to be restored, and I'm indeed in want. What I want is, to lie down in verdant green pastures where connection with the earth seeps into my body and where I feel connected to something larger and to be supported by it. To lie down and let the earth support me gives rest to my soul. To wonder beside still waters and listen to the water move across stones and listen to the flow of the water quiets my soul and I feel connected and I can let the water carry away my heaviness.
There are times when my soul is not at peace. I need quiet and I need solitude. I need to meet God in a sacred place where I don't know what time it is; where my phone is not in my hand; where I'm not aware of what I owe anyone or what they owe me; where the news of the day is not on my mind and where I have no deadline to meet; where I'm not aware of the needs of the kids.
In that sacred place I lie down, if only in my mind’ I lay down all the should’s, have-to’s, need-to’s and for a moment; for one holy moment my soul is still and at peace.
Another Psalm comes to mind at this moment… ”God is my refuge and my strength..." a very present help in trouble, so Greg, "Be still and know that I am God”.
Be still. Rest your soul beside the still waters and know that God is God. What's here now will be here in 30 minutes. Be still and let God restore your soul, in whatever way is refreshing to your soul. Know where that sacred place is, and go there often. God will meet you there …always.(Reverend Greg LaDue)
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