“You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you”. St Augustine of Hippo1
Welcome to the latest newsletter from The Distant Spire.
Last month I mentioned that my instrumental piece The Dawn Already Glows would be my last from the album Transcendent Horizons, six instrumental tracks composed with a desire to encourage listeners to slow down, reflect and meditate on God’s goodness.
I am now embarking a fresh project, producing a series of decidedly quieter, more reflective pieces. They will be released as an album hopefully within the next couple of months. Most of them are not completely new, but are unreleased and have been works in progress for some time. I will be posting them in my regular newsletter as ‘pre-release’ versions that are still in demo, draft or pre-master stage.
There will be two versions of each track. There will be a short 2.00-4.00 minute version plus an extended version of up to 10 minutes for those that want to spend more time immersing themselves in reflection and prayer with music. I welcome your feedback and comments throughout this project.
About The Track
My first piece in this series is titled Beside Still Waters. I composed it a few years ago and it has evolved to become more minimal and subtle to emphasise a mood of quietness and stillness. Sparing use of synthesiser pads, guitar swells and ambient bells sounds over an ambience of running water recorded at John Forrest National Park create the serene mood that I wanted to capture. The title and theme recall the first few verses of Psalm 23 written by King David:
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;
he makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
Still Water – A Place For Restoration and Rest
Most of us can relate to being beside a quiet slow flowing stream, and the sense of peace and tranquility it evokes. The desire for a place of quiet in nature is not unique. On the run from his enemies in the desert, David draws on this imagery to compare with a place of safety and rest. So then we too can let the Lord guide us to that place where we can find stillness. Not only a refuge from the storms that assail us, the place of stillness is where we hear the voice of God most clearly and can be restored. Bede Griffiths OSB, a Benedictine monk shared this truth beautifully:
Inner stillness is necessary if we are to be in perfect control of our faculties and if we are to hear the voice of the Spirit speaking to us. There can be no stillness without discipline, and the discipline of external silence can help us towards that inner tranquility which is at the heart of authentic religious experience.
In meditation we take steps to achieve this stillness. We quieten our bodies and our emotions, then gradually allow the mind to become single-pointed. Stillness within one individual can affect society beyond measure.2
Emphasising the underlying theme of trust in God, Pope Benedict XVI said of verses 2-3:
The vision that unfolds before our eyes is that of green pastures and springs of clear water, oases of peace to which the shepherd leads his flock, symbols of the places of life towards which the Lord leads the Psalmist, who feels like the sheep lying on the grass beside a stream, resting rather than in a state of tension or alarm, peaceful and trusting, because it is a safe place, the water is fresh and the shepherd is watching over them.3
Where Else Can I Listen?
🎵 My music is available on various streaming platforms and I upload music regularly. I invite you to listen and add The Distant Spire to your favourite streaming platform playlist for devotional meditation music by clicking on one of the links below. These songs are all instrumental, intended to encourage us to slow down, reflect and meditate on the goodness of God.
Starting with my first release Transcendent Horizons, I will be adding all of my devotional music for meditation to the platforms below plus many others.
Some Additional Notes
It’s official! My wife and I were received into full communion with the Catholic Church at Easter Vigil on Saturday 19 April 2025. It was an amazing ceremony and we truly felt loved and welcomed. There was much joy and celebration for all nine new entrants in our parish.
I am truly enraptured with the Roman Catholic Church and its respect for tradition, the liturgy, and sacraments that have been passed down through the apostles and church fathers for over two thousand years. A journey that began in earnest for me five years ago has been a period of growth and new formation that has been incredibly life-giving. The church has also become bigger, more beautiful and deeper in meaning to me. I am excited for the future as we embark on this new chapter of our Christian faith.
You can help me with my motivation by subscribing to my newsletter, and sharing a link would be the nicest compliment you could give me - it says my work is worthy of not just your time but those that are important to you.
I highly value your comments and encouragement it means a lot so please do so if what you enjoy what you hear, if it resonates with you or helps you in any way.
You can read more about The Distant Spire and the concept behind it on my About Page.
God bless you and keep you,
D.A Sigley
The Distant Spire
Footnotes and Resources
Beside Still Waters written, recorded and produced by Dale A Sigley ©2025
All scripture quotes from Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE).
I wrote a piece on St Augustine last year titled Till We Rest in Thee.
Griffiths, B., & Spink, P. (1990). The Universal Christ: Daily Readings with Bede Griffiths.
Benedict XVI General Audience Address, Vatican, October 5, 2011. Library : Psalm 23- The closeness of God transforms reality. (n.d.). Catholic Culture. https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=9748
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