There are various scriptures that have applied to my life at different times in my life, but I have a specific verse that keeps popping up like a recurring theme. “Be Still and know that I am God!” Psalm 46:11 (NAB) or Psalm 46:10 (RSV)
If you browse through the last four years of my blog posts at Of Sound Mind and Spirit, you will see many calls to “Be still.” And in truth, being still and quiet is not really what I do. It is something I know I should do, but I don’t. Doing and being busy is a large part of who I am. But, sometimes I find I am so busy doing that I can’t see what God is trying to show me, and at times, I miss God speaking to me because I don’t make the opportunity to “Be still.”
While at my parish MOMs group three years ago, the leader shared a song with us one day. “Slow Me Down” by Emmy Rossum. Shannon told us how she was pulled in many different directions as a wife and mom and this song connected with something inside her, calling to her. This is the refrain:
Somebody take my hand and lead me
Slow me down
Don't let love pass me by
Just show me how
Cause I'm ready to fall
Slow me down
Don't let me live a lie
Before my life flies by
I need you to slow me down
At the time, I couldn’t sit still long enough to just listen to the lyrics. I kept thinking, “Sure, it’s pretty, but why is she playing this for us?” My mind was racing with all the things I felt we should be doing during our limited time together rather than listening to this song. I couldn’t “Be still” and just hear it.
Fast-forward to this year when my daughter played this same song for me again. While in the car together, she listened to it over and over and over. Finally, it clicked and I “heard” it. These lyrics jumped out and grabbed me instantly bringing Psalm 46:11 to mind. “Be Still and Know that I am God. He is here, attempting to lead me, but I need to slow down and “Be still.”
Shannon had attempted to share this message with me years ago, but I wasn’t ready to hear it yet. Now, I am ready. I am finally ready to “Be still.”
“Slow Me Down” by Emmy Rossum
Rushing and racing and running in circles
Moving so fast I'm forgetting my purpose
Blur of the traffic is sending me spinning
Getting nowhere
My head and my heart are colliding chaotic
Pace of the world I just wish I could stop it
Try to appear like I've got it together
I'm falling apart
Save me
Somebody take my hand and lead me
Slow me down
Don't let love pass me by
Just show me how
Cause I'm ready to fall
Slow me down
Don't let me live a lie
Before my life flies by
I need you to slow me down
Sometimes I fear that I might disappear
In the blur of fast forward I falter again
Forgetting to breathe
I need to sleep
I'm getting nowhere
All that I've missed I see in the reflection
Pass me while I wasn't paying attention
Tired of rushing, racing and running
I'm falling apart
The noise of the world is getting me caught up
Chasing the clock and I wish I could stop it
Just need to breathe
Somebody please
Slow me down
Copyright 2013 Lisa Jones
About the Author
Lisa Henley Jones
Lisa Henley Jones is a wife, mom, native Texan, and parish communications director. She enjoys reading, walking, going on date nights, and cheering on her kids in their activities. As a social media consultant, Lisa teaches Catholic parishes to engage, inspire, and evangelize on social media. Find her blog at Of Sound Mind & Spirit and her social media course at Parish Social Media.
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