The Gift of Silence

Psalm 62 declares, “For God alone, my soul waits in silence…”

I remember quite a number of years ago, my wife Robbie took a class at Memorial Presbyterian Church on Christian mediation. It was taught by our friend Marc Craddock. 

After a really basic introduction, Marc asked them to sit in silence for five minutes. You might think, five minutes, no big deal. But Robbie said she felt like she was coming out of her skin! It was really hard. And then she thought to herself: This is a problem. If I can’t sit in silence for even five minutes, something is wrong.

That started her on a path…Silence is now a regular part of her morning routine.

I guess I began my own journey with silence about the same time as Robbie. She kind of dragged me into this mediation thing. Actually, it has been a great thing for me. About a year and a half ago, I wanted to extend and deepen this practice. I decided to undertake a three-day silent retreat at a Trappist monetary up in South Carolina. Going from 20-30 minutes each morning to three full days was not easy! In fact, at the end of the first day, I thought to myself, “I’m going home! I can’t do this!”

But, I’m so glad I stayed. That extended period of silence worked on something deep within me. I felt God’s Spirit stirring in my life. It helped me put together all the pieces of the last few months at the end of my sabbatical. I came out of the time truly feeling as though my soul was restored.

I wonder how our lives would look if we were able to reduce just a little of the noise and chatter around us. If we were able to carve out even a little time each day to sit silently in God’s presence…? What if, for thirty minutes each day, we were to turn off the ringers, the notifications, the TV, the iPad, and listen for that still small voice?

I don’t know how this might look for you. But I do know, if you can find it, it is a gift.

Let us pray: Holy God, as we embrace a moment of stillness even now, we ask for Your presence to envelop us. In the relative quiet, speak to our hearts… Strengthen us. Renew us. Fill us with your peace. Amen.