03/28/2024
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By Charlotte Smith 

Yesterday, the Bladen County Board of Commissioners declared a State of Emergency. For the past week or so, we have been encouraged to practice social distancing. 

Although there is no “shelter in place” order and no order for additional closure of businesses, maybe we should remember the “Be Still” order. 

Earlier this week, BladenOnline.com announced a “Find the Beauty” challenge. The idea is for the next two weeks to find something beautiful each day and post it on social media using the hashtag: #findthebeautychallenge. 

The challenge has caused me to look more often for things of beauty instead of hyper-focusing on the coronavirus, or other stressful, negative happenings occurring at this time. 

This morning as I awakened to the birds singing outside, I wondered, “How hard is it to be still?”

When I’m still, I find peace, comfort, Joy- a sanctuary, yet each day, I battle to find time just to be still. I decided to challenge myself to take the opportunity to be “still” more often for the next two weeks. 

Being still doesn’t mean being lazy, sleeping, or wasting time. 

Being still means you find serenity amid battles, you find tranquility when madness abounds, you find refuge when storms approach. 

Your mind, body, strength, and spirit finds the Joy no matter the circumstances when you are still. 

After the plan came to mind, of course, I googled it. I just told you I battle being still. 

I found a Yoga teacher who announced a “Be Still Challenge” in January of this year. The challenge offers a diet plan as well. https://yogafaith.org/be-still-challenge/

If you are not into yoga, but like the “Be Still” challenge, there was another challenge posted in 2014 by Fortitfied Fitness. Find it at http://iamfortified.com/september30daychallenge/

To be still is a command in the Bible. Psalm 46:10, He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

At this time of uncertainty, we should take the opportunity and get back to basics. We are a blessed nation and there is a time and season for everything. This too shall pass. 

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