Be still and KNOW

Being still is such a hard thing to do. I mean, here I am sitting on Lake Austin, at what may be my favorite coffee shop on the planet, Mozart's, and I'm working...

I discovered Mozart's about 11 years ago by accident. Caryn and I lived here right after we got married in 1996. I was serving a small country church as the Youth & Music Minister, and coffee shops were just becoming hip. I was surfing the internet checking out the local coffee scene when I happened upon a review of Mozart's. We loaded up a van full of teenagers and came to listen to jazz music on the deck that overlooks the lake. It became a regular outting for us. Caryn and I would come here often and just sit on the deck. I would have coffee and she would get a smoothie from the health store next door. There's a funny story I always think about when I'm here. After Caryn and I moved away, we would come back to Austin and meet with former students who were now adults. One of our former students had just met a girl at the university where he was attending, and wanted us to meet her. He brought her over, and we all sat out on the deck. Right in the middle of our conversation, a bird swooped down on her and pooped in her hair! She was mortified and embarassed. We were all very comforting, assuring her that it could have happened to any of us. Her greatest fear was that we would only remember her as "the girl that got pooped on at Mozart's." Well, they didn't date long. And sure enough, when we talk about that fateful day, we don't remember her name. We just say, "Remember that girl that got pooped on at Mozart's?"

So, anyway, here I am 11 years later, and it's just like I remember it, except they have wireless internet now (which didn't exist when I first came here). I'm out on the deck, literally over the water of the lake. Ducks swim by. Birds are chirpping. A gentle breeze is blowing. I couldn't ask for a more ideal setting (other than the guy having a conference call on SKIPE next to me would hang up or move away!). The guy two tables over has his headphones on and can't hear his cell phone ringing, but everyone else can. There's seven of us on this side of the building, perhaps 20 more on the main deck. Almost to a person, there are laptops, cell phones, PDA's, Blackberries, and briefcases everywhere. I've got my headphones on listening to my Lounge Worship collection (who knew I liked lounge music? hahaha). Strangely enough, though, it's peaceful (again, accept for headset man next to me). My heart is beating somewhat slower. The breeze rolls by at just the right moment to make sure that it doesn't get hot out here. And, somehow, I feel like I can hear God better. It's weird, I know. How many of the people here are experiencing what I am? Maybe all of them. Probably not. It occurs to me that I am precious and wonderful to a God who put this lake here for His glory and my connection. It's a divine moment. Like the water, God brings life and refreshing. Like the breeze, He moves where He wants, His timing perfect. Like the birds, He creates a symphony unmatched by any other. And me? I'm like one of the speed boats over there that zips and zooms through it all oblivious because I'm moving too fast. That is, until I run out of gas. That's the real danger, I think. I think we can miss what God is doing because we are so busy and so surrounded by distractions. We miss who He is because we are so caught up in trying to be who we are. Take a moment this morning (a much needed moment I'm sure) to stop and breathe. Breathe God in. Breathe Him out. Notice Him in the world around you. Are you tired? Stop. Be still. KNOW that He is GOD. Look for Him. Those who seek Him find Him and find eternal life. In Him we live and move and breathe. And when we do find Him, He is able to use us to exalt Himself in all the world; but especially our lives. Shhh. Rest. Wait. Hope. Breathe. It's gonna be alright. Look for Him. He's here. He's waiting. He's moving. Just stop and wait.