Be Still...

Entire nations are in quarantine. Schools are closed. Businesses are being shut down with more than 50% of companies moving to fully isolated and homebound employees. The stock market is on a roller coaster not too dissimilar from the late Tower of Terror at Disney. Citizens are being asked to stay indoors and practice “social distancing”. It would be an understatement to say that we are living in bizarre times. However, amidst all the panic, fear, and uncertainty surrounding the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, I am reminded of one of the most reassuring verses of the Bible out of Psalms. 

"Be still and know that I am God…"  — Psalms 46:10 

As a Christian, this simple sentence brings immeasurable solace to my quivering mind. As a practicing stoic, I try to remember that these external circumstances are not in my control, so I should not allow them to take hold of my thoughts and emotions. All we control is our reactions. But how great is it to know that in the thick of a global virus outbreak we are reminded of who is truly in control… Epictetus had this to say:

"The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control. Where then do I look for good and evil? Not to uncontrollable externals, but within myself to the choices that are my own…" — Epictetus, Discourses, 2.5.4-5

If there is one thing that stoics and Christians can agree on, it is that the key to happiness is learning to be still. This doesn’t necessarily mean sit crisscross-apple-sauce, close your eyes, knock on the sky and listen to the sound… Rather just take a break from your daily tasks, take a deep breath and be still. Physically do not move. Turn off the noise around you and try to focus. To some, it might actually mean getting to a quiet place so that it is just you and your thoughts. In fact, Jesus Christ used to do this… A LOT. (See Luke 5:16) 

Currently, my pastor has us going through a book called The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer … (if you have not heard of or read this book, do yourself a favor and give it a go) … and this particular line stuck out to me:

"To walk with Jesus is to walk with a slow, unhurried pace. Hurry is the death of prayer and only impedes and spoils our work." — Father Walter Adams (The spiritual director to C.S. Lewis!)

While those are not Comer’s words, they clearly stuck out to him as well. He further explains that if you pay attention in the Bible, Jesus is never in a hurry. I find this so fascinating because being the Son of God one might think that he had a to-do list nearly the length of a CVS receipt! Well he did, but that didn’t cause him to stress or hurry. He simply moved from one task to the next fully in control of the situation and reacting with complete poise and assurance that his Father had full authority over his circumstances. 

A friend of mine recently posted an excerpt from British writer and theologian, C.S. Lewis, on his thoughts during the Second World War. Simply replace “atomic bomb” with “COVID-19” and these perennial words still hold true.

"This is the first point to be made: and the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds." — C.S. Lewis, "On Living in Atomic Age”

One of the more revered and widely known stoic philosophers is Marcus Aurelius. Marcus Aurelius, the last of the “Five Good Emperors" once wrote in his famous Meditations, “The impediment to action becomes action. What stands in the way, becomes the way”. The ancient stoics did not back down in fear when life’s difficulties reared its ugly head. I currently wear a pendant around my neck with this exact saying written on it as a soft reminder for, in times such as these to take a step back, be still, and realize that this strife only adds to the story that is life... take the following quote for example:

"You don’t develop courage by being happy in your relationships every day. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity." — Epicurus 

While the easy thing to do right now might be to buy into the media’s portrayal of near imminent Armageddon, run to your nearest grocery store and buy as much toilet paper as you can fit into your cart (still perplexed as to why this has become a thing…) why not slow down and be still. Think logically about what is happening. I am not trying to downplay the seriousness of recent events, but I am asking you to take a few minutes to be still. Think on the things that really do matter. Take this time of quarantine to work on your health. Read. Practice a new hobby. Get ahead on your taxes. Be thankful. Be still. Pray. And most importantly, wash your hands.

Stay safe out there and God bless.

-DW

1 Father Walter Adams, quotes in Alan Fadling, An Hurried Life: Following Jesus’ Rhythms of Work and Rest (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2013)