Stillness and Silence

 

What comes into your mind when you hear the word, “Silence”? 

Silence can mean quiet, calm, and slowing down.

Silence can mean loneliness and an unsettling stillness or even restlessness.

When have you experienced quiet in a holy way?

When has silence been uncomfortable, because sometimes silence can be hurtful or unwelcome.

Or maybe you have heard that the same letters are used to spell “silent” and “listen”.

Or maybe you have heard the quote, “God’s first language is silence.  Everything else is a translation.” which is attributed to Thomas Keating who is a leader in contemplative prayer, more on this in a moment.

Or maybe you’ve read Mother Teresa of Calcutta who wrote, “We cannot find God in noise or agitation. Nature: trees, and grass grow in silence. The stars, the moon, the sun move in silence.”

This week, I want us to begin the season of summer with moments of stillness and silence.  Up front I want to say that my intention here is NOT to make you a monk or nun or levitate five inches off the ground.  I am not trying to sell you something or guarantee you that you will have a spiritual enlightened experience that transforms your life.  Sometimes meditation and centering prayer is five minutes of stillness amid the storms of life.  And that is what I am encouraging right now ~ 5 minutes. 

Find your phone or a timer and set it to 5 minutes.

~ Breathe in a deep breath and slowly exhale.  Try to have your exhale be longer than your inhale.  This means if you inhale to the count of five, exhale to the count of seven or eight. 

~ Choose a sacred word (love, peace, shalom, sun, Son, Creator) as the symbol of your intention to be open to God’s presence and action within and around.

~ Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly and silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your openness to God’s presence and action within and around.

~ When thoughts start to compose to do lists or feeling agitation at why you are doing this or tension sits on your shoulders, return ever-so-gently to the sacred word.

~ At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with eyes closed with three or four more deep breaths.

Then, take a few moments to write down what you experienced.  It is perfectly acceptable and understandable and normal to write down, “Nothing”.  Or “I feel a bit calmer.”  Or maybe there was an insight that entered your imagination.  Or maybe you had to return to your sacred word what felt like 100 times in five minutes!  There is NO right way, no right experience, no expectations other than to be in God’s presence ~ awake and aware of the Holy hovering in your life.

May these five minutes remind you that God is with you every minute this day.  Amen.