Stillness is power

I found myself so amused today, learning about Heron of Alexandria’s inventions. He was such a genius that he designed and made so many kits and equipments in antiquity. Some of his inventions including automatic door revolver, chanting bird machine, toy by using steam power, coin-water dispenser, and the most complicated of all, automatic puppet show, all using physical principles of water, air and fire. I am so much impressed and inspired by such insight of his legacy.

One of the things that I saw and heard from the video was a glimpse on the Great Library of Alexandria, however, intrigued me. The narrator told something about one part of the building which is called ‘Museum.’ But this museum has nothing to do with selections of ancient things in the glass cases; rather it refers to a place solely devoted for the appreciation of stillness and thinking. So, here people are freed from the occupation of temporal things of daily life and goes beyond that, thinking and pondering on knowledge. I imagine Heron loved to be in that room. And I guess that is one of vital aspects of how he could manage to nurture his ingeniosity and creativity.

Most of houses today have TV set, and or other conveniences which help people to avoid silence and awkward moment of having to do nothing. People find the entertainments ready at hand and there they go, time flies. Unfortunately, this might potentially a very latent danger of people losing the precious moment of being still. I read something quite impressive on the other day that human brains love to have something to work on. That is why, surprisingly enough, there is a great resemblance of an anxious person’ and genius mind’s brain activity. Those conveniences exactly feed this kind of need to keep brain being amused. However, it would be much more awesome if people rethink about how to feed this brain need! What about sparing sometime to be still and to be ‘creative’? We could use it fore mostly to pray, to learn and to feed our brain with quality input.

It can be easily ignored. Since people don’t like to get bored somehow: and don’t be surprised how people could get bored too easily in this multimedia age. Yet, I am convinced that stillness and silence is also basic human needs. It has such curative effects especially to restore sanity, to induce clear and novel thoughts and creativity.

Christians especially; how needful we are of time spared for prayers and study. The Orthodox Church throughout the ages has taught her children to love and to respect moments of silence, of prayers and meditations. It is in the stillness of heart that we encounter such wonder of God visiting us. To develop this eagerness and love of silence, habit of sparing time at least in the morning and evening is inevitable.

Reflect upon this, as the time goes by, we will be surrounded by way much more distractions than ever; that human can ever imagine. It is within our control, however to spare and to take some time off, to ‘close the door of our room and pray.’ Don’t we realize, it is when we constantly and persistently stay within stillness of mind and heart that greatness is born. To wider extend, we also could add some more ‘museum’ time like Heron of Alexandria had, to sharpen our poetic, creative and ingeniosity nature. Never say too late. It can be started today. ;)

Glory to God for all things.