Alabama Lifestyle Blog

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Keep Calm And…

simply elliott logo in gold
… gobble on?
The Friday and Saturday of Easter weekend, the husband and I spent some quality time at the family farm. Now I love the outdoors, and have been to the farm several times before, but have never been hunting. And for this trip, we were going to be hunting… for turkeys. So on Saturday morning, we woke extremely early, covered ourselves from head to toe in camo, and journeyed into the woods to find us some gobblers. So we listened and listened for them to call to us, and proceeded to make calls to entice them out of hiding. And what do you know, they called back to us! Armed and ready, we quietly crept to a good location and set up our spot. And then we waited. In silence.

One of things I love most about the farm is that it is quiet.  It’s in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by trees, and free from distraction. I have always found this to be case, even when we are on the boat or at the house, but that day, in the silence of waiting, the word quiet seemed to echo much more deeply in my thoughts. As the husband was the one with the gun, and I was merely along for ride to watch and assist rather than actually pull the trigger, I was instructed to be still and listen. And so I did.

Each time we sat, awaiting our gobblers to join us, I spoke no words, straining to hear. Watching the trees sway gently in the breeze, the birds softly swooping from distant branches, calling out to one another in song. I saw the new blossoms pushing forth to life alongside the brittle limbs of long ago forgotten limbs. Each leaf that rustled under the step of a woodland creature amplified in stillness. Each chip echoing through the quiet. And in those moments, I was reminded just how incredible His creation is. Of how evident His fingerprint is when we simply take the time to allow ourselves to see it…

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10

After sharing with y’all my most recent struggle, this was the perfect reminder of what that begins to look like and how to cultivate such a spirit. Of how, at the center of exuding a gentle and quiet spirit, is first the need to simply be quiet and find Him in the stillness. To stop running around in search of what’s next on the “to-do” list or conquering an ever growing scale of what it means to be accepted or successful. That to be still amidst the hustle and bustle and choosing to focus on Christ, that we will filled to overflow with such quietness. That by marveling in the beauty of that stillness, our contentedness will be in that which we have and not in the excess the world shouts at us. That as the lilies, we would sweetly sing His praise, clothed in simplicity and beauty.

Just a few pictures below to capture the weekend. Didn’t have any camo of my own, so I had to borrow the sister in law’s overalls so they were about a foot too long, but at least I blended in!
Me and the husband on the lake and with the fish I FINALLY caught after everyone else!
View of the lake were we caught the fishies and saw the precious otter (that the father in law wanted to – and did – get rid of because he was eating the fish).
Where do you find quiet and are able to enjoy the stillness and tranquility of life?
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  1. Melissa Jo says

    Hunting is by "quiet moments" with God. I find myself in constant prayer and being still listening to his words – its funny because that scripture is one that constantly creeps up when Im out there!