Be Still

Schools are busy places. In fact, the whole of our lives are busy, full of noise and other people and things to do and places we should be. We rarely get to stop, to switch off, and just ‘be’. But there is a reason why we are called human beings and not human doings.

This activity encourages pupils to pause and be still for a few minutes, to be silent and listen.

It’s not easy to create a calm, quiet place, especially in a school prayer space. Pupils may be queuing outside the gazebo to take their turn, and others in the room will probably be talking and making noise. Furthermore, the pupils inside the ‘Be Still’ gazebo may be finding it hard to pause and just be – the internal pressure to be doing something and to fill the space with noise or activity is very strong. Don’t worry about any of this though. Even the briefest of pauses is worthwhile.

There are lots of things that you can put inside the ‘Be Still’ gazebo to encourage reflection, both visual and written. Try not to fill the emptiness too much though – that, after all, is an important part of this prayer activity.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10