Psalm 46:10a – Be still, and know that I am God. (KJV)

I had just read the book, The Nun Story. As a teenager, I was so enamoured with the concept of being hidden away from the chaos of adolescence, a boyfriend, and trying to figure out my place in life, that I announced to my parents that I wanted to be a nun. So surprised they were, my mother sputtered, "But we aren't even Catholic." I already knew that. So, I just rolled my eyes and said in an edgy way, "But we are just barely Baptist." My dad just smiled at me from his easy chair.

Enticed I was at the thought of a quiet place away from life, sealed to God's service. I didn't have the skills to deal with this stage of my life during this time of confusion. I thought that to be cloistered and protected would be totally perfect; thus, a convent. My mother just shook her head as her eldest daughter went through yet another phase.

While playing hymns three times a week for my barely Baptist congregation, I often dreamed of wearing the nun's habit and walking in quiet gardens with the Lord. To my parents' relief, that phase wore itself out. I married at 17. About ten years later, when I took in ironing for extra income, I had the privilege of ironing the habits for a group of Dominican nuns. I confided in them about my teenage desire to become one of them. So sweet they were to me in the harsh Las Vegas environment, and brought me vegetables from their garden for payment. I painstakingly ironed the wrinkles out of their habits while I enjoyed this service to God with the due diligence of a novice.

Life can feel like a hurricane spinning us around, but if we keep our focus on Christ, we can remain anchored and calm. In the middle of the storm, when we whisper the name of Jesus, we will hear the silence of His power and presence.

Prayer: Dear Father, in the midst of any storm of life, remind us that our sanctuary can be as simple as quieting our heart to be still before You. Amen.

Forward this devotional     Share on Facebook

About the author:

Karen Milam <karenbmilam@gmail.com>
Penn Valley, California, USA
Send your feedback to the author