It’s a cold, cold, cold morning here in America’s Midwest, and the snow and ice outside my window are begging me to stay inside today, nudging me toward my chair by the fire, toward a time of prayer and waiting.
So much of prayer, like so much of the creative process, is in fact about waiting. But it is not a passive waiting as much as it is a time of expectation that something will happen, a hidden promise that revelation or inspiration will come if we leave ourselves open to that secret and mystical movement of God in our lives.
And yet, sometimes it just doesn’t seem to work. Sometimes we sit and wait and nothing happens. No words, no ideas. Our hands won’t move across the keyboard, the pen sits idle in our grasp, the paintbrush remains dry.
So what do we do when our prayer life or our creative process come up dry? Rather than wringing our hands or — even worse — giving up, our call is to something gentler and more faithful. God asks us to sit and wait, to keep coming back with the knowledge and expectation that the divine presence remains, whether we sense it or not, whether our time of prayer or creativity seems fruitful or not. With a very loud silence, God reminds us that our time together is not about what gets accomplished; it’s about our time together, our shared and intermingled presence.
I was reminded of all this upon reading a poem this week by Rev. Tom Schoenherr, a retired Lutheran pastor, spiritual director, and inspired writer and blogger. Tom’s poem, below, speaks to this “gnawing at the soul” that we can sometimes feel in the depth of dark and cold winter. You can check out more of his writing at his website, The Deeper Journey.
Today,
Snow blankets the scenery,
White smoke pours from chimneys,
Writing gnaws at my soul,
No words to pray
Today.
Longing for peace-filled thoughts,
Hoping for new life,
Doubting your presence,
No words to pray
Today,
Where comes the Spirit?
Where come the sighings?
Where lie deep thoughts?
Where comes the crying?
Today,
My mind settles in,
My spirit centers my soul,
I rest my open hands upon
My knees. I wait,
I listen.
You are here
Today.
Speaking of waiting, yesterday Sue and I welcomed our second grandchild. She is perfect in every way and the spitting image of her big brother, Noah. Welcome to the world Kate Olivia Givens, we’ve been waiting for you…
Ask yourself in silence: How do you cope with those times when God and inspiration seem distant?
16 comments On The Creative Spirit: Waiting
Profound thoughts on this beautiful morning. Thank you for sharing. Our Saturday morning Men’s Bible Study at The Crossing was canceled due to the weather. I shared your post with the guys in my group and they all wanted to know who you were. I told them that you were a friend and one of the “guys” that we should all pattern ourselves after. You continue to inspire me and make me look deep inside myself as I travel along my faith journey. Now you will inspire a few more. Congratulations again on Kate. I hope she brings you the joy and love Angie has given me.
Thank you once again Steve. Our land in Colorado too is covered with snow. It gives us all a time for thought. Welcome to your Kate and bless her. I always welcome your messages. Betty
Once again, thanks so much! So many beautiful thoughts, so much upon which to reflect. The times I sit quietly waiting are so important to me.
Congratulations on your new grandbaby! We are expecting our 10th in August, and every new one is as important and exciting as the others. We grandparents are so blessed!
Nice Steve. Thanks.
Thank you Steve for this inspiring message. You always give me hope! And congratulations on the birth of your granddaughter, Kate. She is indeed a beautiful addition to your beautiful family.
“Our shared and intermingled presence” . I once heard Immaculée Ilibagiza speaking, (Led By Faith”) who survived the Rwandan Genocide, and she said that they had trouble hearing from God. She replied that you must go out and be amoung people for Him to bring you to where you need to be for his intercession. She said that you can’t sit home just waiting for something. This recollection barely captures the impact of this woman’s faith, whose life is an incredible example of an extraordinary faith!. Thank you for bringing the topic up and your thoughts on it!
Hi Steve,
Congratulations on the arrival of lovely Kate Olivia. Babies and children are truly the dearly beloved of God.
Indeed, how often we find ourselves totally bereft when we seem to be on an arid plateau and flickering shadows of doubt and question cloud our senses. and yet through it all, we still wait with hope. We realise then that despite the dryness, we are still keeping God’s divine presence in sight and within us and we must contiinue to do so for HE works in HIS own Time and Space.
Thank you Steve for your inspiring thoughts and words.
Lily
There are days when my pen seems dry or my figures are unable to locate the keys that will bring forth ideas for my writing. I know that if I’m patient and allow my spirit to remain calm, God will provide.
This morning my God whisper came from you.
Kate is a beautiful child.
Thank you.
God bless you and your family.
Thank you, Paul. What a beautiful way to to think about how we all minister to each other…
Thank you, Lily, for another thoughtful and insightful response. Such gentle wisdom in your words.
Thanks, Demerise, for bringing another important concept into the conversation…waiting for God is good spirituality, but so is getting up out of our chairs and putting our contemplation into action!
Thanks, Kathleen…good to hear from you.
Thank you, John…
Thanks, Judy. Sitting quietly is my favorite time of day…when I make time for it. When I don’t, I miss it and feel it,as if something is missing…
Thanks, Betty. Keep warm!
Thank you, Jim, for spreading my thoughts to your brothers in prayer.