Just Stop For A Moment

Posted September 14, 2021

“We need to stop.
Just stop.
Stop for a moment.
Before anybody
Says or does anything
That may hurt anyone else.” –Mattie Stepanek, excerpt from For Our World, written on September 11, 2001

“Stop for a moment” Mattie Stepanek asked us after so many watched the horrors filling our television screens on 9-11 twenty years ago. Such wisdom from an 11-year-old boy battling an awful disease.*

As we reflected on his poem, For Our World (see below), in our Sisters Contemplative Morning this past Saturday, I felt the power of his wise words for us today. So many are struggling to make sense of the discord in our country and are weary of the pandemic. It is understandable that we lash out at times. Yet, rarely is that ever helpful. And sometimes it is dangerous.

Eremos’ call to a life of contemplation helps me remember more often each passing year the power of stopping for a moment, for a breath, for a silent connection to divine wisdom. When I stop, I have a chance of being reminded:

“Our differences are unique treasures. We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts, to nurture, to offer, to accept.” — Mattie Stepanek

May you stop for a moment in times of frustration, anger, or fear to feel your connection to Source and to respond from that compassionate place.

*Mattie Stepanek passed away in 2004 after his battle with Dysautonomic Mitochondrial Myopathy. His poetry, wisdom, and story about his inspiring life can be found at www.mattieonline.com.

For Our World

by Mattie Stepanek
We need to stop.
Just stop.
Stop for a moment.
Before anybody
Says or does anything
That may hurt anyone else.
We need to be silent.
Just silent.
Silent for a moment.
Before we forever lose
The blessing of songs
That grow in our hearts.
We need to notice.
Just notice.
Notice for a moment.
Before the future slips away
Into ashes and dust of humility.
Stop, be silent, and notice.
In so many ways, we are the same.
Our differences are unique treasures.
We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts
To nurture, to offer, to accept.
We need to be.
Just be.
Be for a moment.
Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting,
Like children and lambs,
Never judging or vengeful
Like the judging and vengeful.
And now, let us pray,
Differently, yet together,
Before there is no earth, no life,
No chance for peace.

September 11, 2001

Oh, Body

Oh body—
For 41 years
1,573 experts
with 14,355
combined years of training

to
cure
your
wounds.

Deep inside,

I
am
whole.

—Rachel Naomi Remen

If you’re feeling a desire to remember “deep inside I am whole”, then please join us this Saturday for Cheryl Pallant’s workshop, Somatic Writing. Your body has wisdom to share…