Over a week ago I had the pleasure of leading people through the spiritual practice of Visio Divina – Holy Seeing. This particular practice has been a favorite of mine. In a world where life often seems to be careening out of control, its intentional slowness and deliberate attention helps to put on the brakes to the proverbial crazy train.

My particular way of moving through this practice might be slightly different than others who practice Visio Divina.  I like to ask the Holy Spirit to direct my gaze toward something I may not see on my own or maybe even something I intentionally avoid while I am out in the world. He is always gracious to do so and when He does, I will take a photo on my phone. Then in a quiet moment later, I will sit with the photo and ask the Holy Spirit to help me see what God sees and to hear God speak to me through what I see.

He never disappoints.

Today I sat with a photo I recently took on an early morning at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

As I made my way through the movements…locking my gaze on the first thing that captures my attention – the lone bird standing on the beach and then allowing my gaze to widen taking in the whole image – the bubbles in the sand, the waves almost ready to crash, the silhouette of the bird flying in the distance, I prayerfully considered what it is that God desired me to see, to hold from this image.

And quietly I sense this phrase, “the reflection is seen in the stillness.”

I begin to see in the midst of all the many movements – bubbles erupting, waves crashing, ripples moving outward and birds flying – what stood quietly alone, in stillness was best reflected.

I am holding this truth close today. This month has been a busy one full of beautiful and good things. Yet, even so, in all of its movements of good the best can be lost and overlooked. This world would like us to believe that movers and shakers get all the things done. They are the pillars of success. They get to grab the brass ring and hold the trophies. And, that may be true in this world but friend, hear me, this world will end and all the brass rings, trophies and successes mean absolutely nothing in the light of eternity.

St. Benedict of Nursia has been noted as saying, “Listen and attend with the ear of your heart.” This is hard to do when the world is spinning and we are trying to win all the things. Noise begets more noise. Movement begets more movement. But to listen and attend well requires a stillness and an aloneness that beckons us into the holy presence of the Lord. It is the place where His reflection can be seen and even more importantly, experienced. It is here that His loving gaze becomes our reflection to the world.

May you find time to enter into stillness and seek His reflection.

Eternity longs for you to do so. Your eternity depends on it.