Love in Stillness

I looked at the next quote in the book this morning, and cringed and turned the page to the next one. I wasn’t gonna even think about the topic. And the quote itself puzzled me, after yesterday’s topic of earthquakes and thunder.

But it had already worked it’s way into my head, and as I embarked on a short journey this evening it started to make sense.

There’s something about driving with the windows down and the radio turned all the way up. I love how the wind whips through my hair, and the sun makes everything shine. The way the music shakes my soul, and takes from me the things I can’t control.

So I went for a drive, purposely putting on layers so I could comfortably drive with the windows all the way down. There was a chill to the air despite the sun, but the combination of wind and sun and music called to me.

All day I’d been thinking about the quote I had picked, but this other quote started to whisper to me as I drove back towards home, and I couldn’t shut it up. So I’m going to write this out of my head. I don’t know if I fully understand it or not, I’m not sure why my brain is so deadset at picking at this scab. But. . . As always, I’m following my gut.

“Love works miracles in Stillness.” – Herbert Read

I don’t know who this Herbert guy is, but I initially thought he was confused. Stillness? Huh?

As I drove I couldn’t quite remember the quote, and I thought it was silence, not stillness. But essentially, it’s the same thing. Stillness is silent, so I’m going to go with that’s what this dude meant when he wrote it. And really, quotes are all about interpretation, right? I’m sure every author has an idea what they mean when they’re writing the words, but us readers single out a sentence and say, “Look. This is what I meant.” No different than a song, a quote can mean a million different things to a million different people. That’s the beauty in words. Lyrics, stories, quotes. . . They speak to us, for us, when we can’t quite convey what’s in our heart.

So I’m gonna give this a go. This is my interpretation.

Love is in checking on your sleeping child, seeing them lay there peaceful and dreaming after a day of sun and dirt. Love is brushing their hair out of their face and just staring in awe at this little rambunctious human that you created, finally resting his ever busy bones, readying himself for another day of shenanigans.

Love is the butterfly sitting silently on a flower in the sunshine, a deer in the middle of the woods standing still and alert, testing the air with her nose. Love is sitting quietly with a book, petting your dog or cat absently with one hand, holding your place with the other. It’s watching the sun rise or the sun set quietly by yourself. It’s in watching and appreciating nature, love is the quiet things in life, appreciating peace.

Love is sitting quietly listening to your friends broken sobs while she tells you about what’s hurting her soul, until no more words can be spoken, until the hurt is all cried out, and not speaking a word until that moment. Love is giving space and silence when you sense that it’s needed.

Love is sitting silently in front of a headstone and watching the wind in the nearby field, watching the sun play on the flecks in the granite. It’s in quiet rememberance of times gone by, it’s in allowing yourself that time to grieve those who are gone. Loving yourself and allowing yourself the time to mourn or celebrate will work it’s miracles, too.

Love is standing silent and still and letting life play out how it will, despite everything screaming inside you to try and interfere.

Love is in a full tub of water and bubbles, eyes closed, body relaxed. It’s in savasana during a yoga practice, it is in closing your eyes at night and knowing you’ll wake up better and ready for tomorrow. This is self love, and there are miracles that can happen through this, too.

Love isn’t always about the obvious actions towards another, it isn’t always loud and explosive, love isn’t always the earthquake. It’s in your silence, in your reserve, too. It’s in resting yourself, because love isn’t always about another person, you need to love yourself, too.

Love works miracles in stillness. . . Just like this quote, love works it’s way into you without you necessarily even realizing it. Love is a quiet thing. You don’t have to scream it from the rooftops for it to work it’s miracle. You can sit quietly by while the person you love figures shit out, and just be there when they need you, if they need you. Love is also in knowing when to make your exit though, too. It’s in knowing when you’ve given all of yourself that you can, and knowing it’s not enough and walking away. It’s silent and still, its unobtrusive, and doesn’t judge.

I’m having a hard time with conveying myself today, but I think you get it. Love isn’t always obnoxiously obvious, sometimes it’s just in sitting quietly and letting shit work itself out. You can’t control it, you can’t direct it. You just gotta let it be what it is. And in doing that you’re giving yourself, or another person, a wonderful gift. Love is understanding of what you or another person needs, and it doesn’t have to be spoken. It will work it’s miracle in time.

That’s what I got on this one, folks. Love isn’t all about another person, it isn’t all grandiose gestures or declarations. Love works miracles in Stillness, if you sit back and let it do what it does.

Happy Tuesday. Don’t be afraid to quietly love.