Be still and know that I am God
you said.
More like,
shut up! And keep your place!
A terrifying command at first.
The kind that sends little kids scurrying to the bathroom,
minuscule bladders trembling with fear.
Shut up! Stop your chatter and clatter!
A bruising command at first.
I don't really need to be told yet again to silence my self-expression.
My whingeing response?
Or the heartfelt cry of one who's been silenced too often?
Keep your place!
At the dinner table.
At the kitchen sink.
In the back row.
In the uncomfortable pose while I fiddle with my lens.
A frustrating command at first.
Pure restriction,
when the spirit wants to soar and spring,
shout and bellow.
Be still, and know that I am God.
On second glance,
a calming statement,
even though shouted.
It's the silencing of all those busy body noises,
the sniping, griping, swiping. slandering,
muttering, grumbling, nattering, chattering
of voices that need to be quieted.
It's the settling and subsiding
of the nervous twitches,
needless, ceaseless, tiring travelling,
relentless wandering and chasing of the world.
It's the subduing of the angry fist,
the brutal boot.
The pacifying of the raging and roaring.
It's the order from chaos
of a minute of silence
in the heat of battle.
Shut up! And know you're not the boss.
Shut up! And listen to what you've been doing.
Be quiet, and rest in His arms.
you said.
More like,
shut up! And keep your place!
A terrifying command at first.
The kind that sends little kids scurrying to the bathroom,
minuscule bladders trembling with fear.
Shut up! Stop your chatter and clatter!
A bruising command at first.
I don't really need to be told yet again to silence my self-expression.
My whingeing response?
Or the heartfelt cry of one who's been silenced too often?
Keep your place!
At the dinner table.
At the kitchen sink.
In the back row.
In the uncomfortable pose while I fiddle with my lens.
A frustrating command at first.
Pure restriction,
when the spirit wants to soar and spring,
shout and bellow.
Be still, and know that I am God.
On second glance,
a calming statement,
even though shouted.
It's the silencing of all those busy body noises,
the sniping, griping, swiping. slandering,
muttering, grumbling, nattering, chattering
of voices that need to be quieted.
It's the settling and subsiding
of the nervous twitches,
needless, ceaseless, tiring travelling,
relentless wandering and chasing of the world.
It's the subduing of the angry fist,
the brutal boot.
The pacifying of the raging and roaring.
It's the order from chaos
of a minute of silence
in the heat of battle.
Shut up! And know you're not the boss.
Shut up! And listen to what you've been doing.
Be quiet, and rest in His arms.
