The Importance of Doing Nothing

Subtle Sound of Silence

9.5 x 6 inches

acrylic & metallic pigment

There are times when doing nothing is everything. In that quiet space, surrounded by the pillow softness of silence, is the nebula of creative thought. 

I was reminded, once again, of the importance of doing nothing when I re-read Mary Oliver's poem, Today from a small gem titled; A Thousand Mornings.

Today I'm flying low and I'm

not saying a word.

I'm letting all the voodoos of ambition sleep.

The world goes on as it must,

the bees in the garden rumbling a little,

the fish leaping, the gnats getting eaten.

And so forth.

But I'm taking the day off.

Quiet as a feather.

I haardly move though really I'm traveling 

a terrific distance.

Stillness. One of the doors

into the temple. 

Rushing from moment to moment, 

cell phones beckoning with a multitude of rings, 

disturbing the air as their owners, slaves to the sounds, 

 rush to answer;

 24/7 television news leaping, from disaster to disaster, 

each commentator trying to out-blast the next, 

the assualting cacaphony of the media, 

so easily dissappeared by simply turning the devices off! 

that we must do, otherwise go mad and disturbed throughout life, 

when we are meant to sit,

from time to time,

in the temple of stillness 

and breath in the clean, quiet air of silence. 

Are we so afraid of our thoughts? 

Have we lost the importance of doing nothing?