Email: Ali Sutton

Amigos,

Greetings from Guatemala! Lately, I have been doing a lot of thinking about being still. I think that as an American, I naturally have a hard time grasping this concept. I have spent a large part of my life juggling more than is sensible: athletic activities, lessons, clubs, and while I was in college, mountains of course work and internships. I became involved in these activities by choice, but also because our culture promotes a lifestyle of self-betterment and constant activity. Latin American culture is, in general, a lot more relaxed than that of the United States, and in preparing for my year in Guatemala, I had every intention of trading the fast-paced influence of Uncle Sam for a more mellow experience.

My intentions were sincere but I haven’t done a very good job of putting them to practice. It didn’t take me very long after arriving to begin piling on the activities. Besides serving at my designated site work, I am now translating a Bible study for women in my church, teaching Sunday school, singing in the worship band, and helping a friend with his English. I also find that at times I take “being in community” too literally and have a hard time declining the smallest of invitations. I have even started to put leisure activities such as painting and yoga on my list of things to do. I don’t know if I am just trying to be the best YAV I can be, or if I have an innate desire to run myself down, but at the rate I’m going I may experience burnout before I even turn 23.

I am training for the Coban International Half-Marathon in May (talk about taking on too much!), and my host mom and I go running every morning with a terrific group of folks. The park where we run isn’t the most secure place in the city, so being with a large group of people is essential. One morning while doing a particularly difficult trail, my pace was too slow to keep up with the people in front of me but too quick for those behind me. I was busy thinking about something I had to do that day when I noticed that I had lost sight of both the people in front of me and the people behind me. I began to panic. My thoughts were racing faster than I was running when suddenly the words “be still” came to mind. I stopped and took a few deep breaths to calm myself down. I listened. I waited. I felt like I was tracking wild game. Shortly I saw a flash of red as a friend ran through the trees a short ways down the mountain and I heard the faint thump of footsteps as others made their way up the trail. What relief I felt as I quickened my pace to shorten the gap between myself and the other runners!

I was separated from the group for only a matter of minutes but it felt like an eternity before I was calmed by the gentle words of my savior disguised as my inner voice. “Be still.”

“Be still, and know that I am God,” we are told in Psalm 46:10. There is so much to be gained from slowing down and breathing once in a while! That morning I made a decision to be still and, since then, I have been trying to apply that stillness and attentiveness to my daily life. I have not made any cuts to my busy schedule, but now view it with a certain tranquility and piece of mind that make it more manageable.

I have learned that thinking about all that I have to do tomorrow takes away from what I am doing today. I am consciously trying to take in all of the beauty that is Guatemala. While riding the bus, I observe the differences in the intricate fabrics of the women’s traditional dress. I appreciate the squeals of children’s laughter as they play and try to notice the softness of a child’s fingers as they intertwine with mine at work. I relish the time spent lingering in conversation around the table long after the meal has finished. I have set aside time each morning to spend with God. Guatemala is thriving with life and color and it only took me a mini panic-attack in the park to remind me to be still, breath, relax, and enjoy the run.

Take it easy,

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