In both prayer and feeding a bird, you need stillness, patience, and presence. All three, all together. 

True stillness is spiritual and rich. It is calm and quiet and right where you are—in the here and now. Stillness brings rest to the clamor that rattles the human mind. Stillness is not about being alone or lonely. Loneliness is but a droning inner racket, which stillness calms. Stillness brings restlessness to a halt and makes us aware of what God gives. It is not necessarily the absence of sound; it is really the absence of noise. When we become still, we are ready to listen to Spirit, God—our true source of being.

This stillness, which we need every day, is full of goodness and real meaning. This beautiful absence of noise is a peaceful absence of strife; it is stationary power. As we wait on God, good, stillness allows us to focus on the majestic presence of good, which is everywhere. And we feel this stillness backing up something we all need, all the time: patience.