THE QUIET (R)EVOLUTION
My favourite T-shirt had the image of a beatific Christ emblazoned on it, with the accompanying caption: ‘Jesus is coming, quick, look busy!” We all jumped on board the busy-ness bandwagon didn’t we?
I am now eagerly awaiting the T-shirt that says, ‘For Christ’s sake, can we all ease up on the busy-ness?’ by Julian Noel
‘At the still point of the turning world… Where past and future are gathered. Neither movement from nor towards, Neither ascent nor decline. Except for the point, the still point, There would be no dance, and there is only the dance.’
T. S. Eliot
IN A WORLD SEDUCED BY the pomp and promise of busy-ness, honouring stillness is a (r)evolutionary act. Stillness. Simple, soft, silky, silent stillness offers us access to a deep, natural intelligence. In this age of scientific hubris we have
separated ourselves from nature, many believing we are better than nature for we study it, dissect it, write papers on it, control it. We have opted to disconnect from the wisdom that flows through all of life. The ‘still point’ has been revered by
sages, philosophers and artists for many a long year, its precious presence resonated into the world through their work.
12 december 2013 Today there is a resurgence of people
honouring the silky presence of stillness, taking time every day to sit and re-align their outer actions with their deep inner impulses. They are the quiet (r) evolutionaries. There are no banners or marches, grand speeches nor public display, this (r)evolution takes place inside the hearts and minds of people. The intelligence of the ‘still point’ is
not an oasis reserved for the elite: mums, dads, ordinary people young and old are alive to the power of quiet. Nonetheless, we are seeing numbers of contemporary leaders from business, sport, politics, leaders of countries and movements drawing from the well of stillness. It has long been said: ‘Be still and know
thy Self’. What is it about stillness that is so deeply satisfying, and energising? An old spiritual fable from the east
says, “God, having gathered his wisest sages, asks, ‘Where will I hide true fulfilment from those who seek life’s deepest answers?’ The sages pondered, and replied, ‘Hide it within their own hearts; it is the last place they’ll look.”
Busy-ness. The modern malady, is
an edgy and restless place. It calls for action in the ‘real world’. Achievement is governed by external results, performance anxiety is rampant as if a panel of assessors is constantly checking whether your abs are tighter, hair blonde enough, legs waxed and tanned, house in the right suburb, pay packet impressive enough. And let’s not forget perfect, shiny teeth. If you come up on the negative side, get
busy. Hey, between you and I, busy-ness
is seductive: I get to feel and look so important as I send missives to my 2,453 (and counting) FB friends, following up with gleeful tweets, ‘Oh, too busy to catch up’. In case I’ve missed someone I send an email, “Wow! Love to touch base, but, you know how it is. I’m busy saving the Arctic Tibetan female whale, I’m buying a boat and forming a foundation. Aaaand I’m organising a national tour of blind refugee throat singers. Anyhow this is a pic of what I had for brekky ¬– chia seed, melon, honey and Brazilian-waxed wheat germ oil smoothie with organic cacao
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