Making time for silence

Holidays are good days to have silence. At least they were prior to my having children. ;-) Even though mine are now firmly into their teens, there's still not a lot of silence. My children believe it's a form of capital punichment to deprive them of their beloved "I" devices - even to go out into the wilds and poke around.

Ah well, I know it was a simialr event with me, car radio cranked up, 8-tracks in and bass turned all the way up. However, we didn't have all the options with cell phones and I-devices and internet. We were able to get away and be in silence - we didn't have any options.

It wasn't until a few years ago that silence took on a deeper meaning - one that was healing as well as quiet. My introduction to contemplation and contemplative prayer forms revolutionized my interior time. Prayer before that time had always been about noise and finding the right words to say. Now it became all aobut silence and listening for the "still small voice". It brought me back to a knowledge of my interior self, and the power that lies resident in each of us.

So, I hope that you find time for silence. Try the book "Soul Feast" by Marjorie Thompson or "Celebration of Discipline" by Foster for more help. Healing can come from small moments of silence. You don't have to take a retreat (though this helps) for a week, 5 to 10 minutes each day will do. Try an examen prayer (a review of your day) as you settle in to sleep. Say thanks for the good things that happened, and offer heartfelt apologies for those things that didn't go well. I find that I sleep much better having done this.

Peace and silence,
Dan