Silence

Silence

Joan Chittister writes:

Silence. . .

brings us beyond the noise

of chaos and clutter and confusion

of a spinning world

to the cool, calm center

of the spiritual self.

(The Monastery of the Soul, ch. 5)

David writes:

My soul, wait in silence

for God only,

for my hope is from him.

(Ps. 62:5)

God, speaking through Isaiah, says:

Coastlands, listen to me in silence,

and let the peoples gain new strength;

let them come forward,

then let them speak.

(Is. 41:1, emphasis added.)

I have often noticed that some Christians—well, many people, Christian or not!—seem to be afraid of silence. I think that to come before God with our prayers, speak them all, then say Amen and go away is rude. God wants to speak to us, too, and he’d like the courtesy of a hearing.

Along with a large dose of humility.

What have you heard or felt in the silence this week?