My boy was a Blues Clues boy, through and through. Loved it. Watched it everyday. He didn’t much care for Sesame Street or Barney (Phew!), but ‘Clues Clues’ was IT. If he found a piece of paper on the floor, he would declare “Blue skadoo, me can too!” and jump onto it.
I hear the sound of it as clear as day, sweet bare feet on hardwood floors and crumpling paper. That littlest voice, so innocent and believing. The innerworks of my mother’s heart tick these echos.
The good old days. Sigh.
So, if you’ve ever watched an episode or two of Blues Clues, then you know about Steve-time.
Ask a question.
A very slow question.
Then pause for an answer. And wait. And wait.
And wait...
We adults don’t tend to like the wait. Waiting is doing nothing; we have to do something. We ask again. Or we ask another question. Or we just fill in the blanks ourselves and give our own answer. Expound and add to. Pile on. But not pause. No, we’re not good with the pause.
When we’re doing something, we feel like we’re in control. We feel strong. Pausing is doing nothing. And doing nothing feels weak.
But our Father says be still and know that I am God.
Be still. Pause. In Hebrew, the verb ‘be still’ comes from the word rapha which can be translated as ‘let yourselves become weak’.
When we let ourselves become weak, when we pause to cede control, we allow His power to be made perfect. Perfect in our weakness.
And then we know God. We don’t assume God or guess God. We don’t take Him for granted or dismiss Him. We know Him because we allow him to be seen. Less of us. More of Him. God shines through our weakness. Shines perfect.
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
