Circles of quiet

We prayed through Psalm 94 this morning—which in the Message includes the phrase “providing a circle of quiet within the clamor of evil”.  That image moves with me through the day.  Circles of quiet confidence and trust, safe islands within a world gone awry.  Team is that way.  Family is that way.  Snatches of musical praise.  Finding a child who nearly died of malaria still alive today.  A mother with AIDS happily showing me her baby’s negative test results, the baby clapping and babbling oblivious of her brush with a fatal disease.  The intent listening of a diminutive 13 year old boy who had accompanied his little brother to the clinic and was taking responsibility for his complicated antiretroviral regime after the death of their mother and illness of their uncle.  A waft of breeze at dawn as the sky melted eastern pink.  

We need those circles of quiet, because evil does clamor.  My heart draws away from the cacophony at times; how much better to move into the clamor bringing my own quiet with me, then invite others into the circle.