The moon is full and bright this morning. The house is quiet. I can hear the cats paws moving across the hardwood floors. The coffee pot is making a clicking noise in the kitchen. Silence is sacred. It is the space in which God speaks. Prayer is often too much talking and not enough listening. If I have learned anything from the mindfulness practices shared during my “Cultivating Reverence for Living” sessions, it is to value silence. How I wish that I could let go of judgement and just listen. I wonder how much more I would have accomplished had I only stopped talking, stopped debating long enough to hear someone else’s thoughts. Or God’s thoughts, for that matter. I bring prejudgment to every situation. I admit this. It’s very difficult to be neutral on a subject. I wish that I could just stop and say to myself, “I don’t know everything about this situation. Let me listen so I may find out more.” This would save so much conflict in my soul. My reactionary attitude would then be replaced by a sense of curiosity.
Every time I react negatively, the cortisol levels rise in my body and adrenaline surges. My adrenals were not meant to be overused this way. The system was meant to take action only in a crisis, “fight or flight” mode. But activating it constantly with the least provocation is destroying my body from the inside out. Centering meditation, deep breathing, yoga and Qigong disrupt this ugly cycle. These practices allow space for silence and for prayer. In this sacred space of silence, the body and the mind are healed. Even Jesus went away to a quiet place to pray regularly. Shouldn’t we do the same?
My mornings to read the Bible and write offer a bit of this space. But it is not enough. During these times, I must watch the clock to make sure I am not late for work. I was so thankful during the mindfulness sessions at Seton Cove Retreat Center that there were no clocks on the walls. I had never noticed this when I have been there before. Surely this was done purposefully. It is a quiet space, a sacred space set aside for respite where clock watching is not allowed.
A physical place to go for silence is a blessing but a quiet inner space is a necessity. If I develop an inner space of silence, then nothing the world throws at me will be able to destroy it. I cannot create this space in my own power but God’s Spirit working within me is able. “Abide with me and I will abide with you.” The Spirit abiding in me creates an inner sanctuary. Let me go to this sacred place regularly and there I will find peace.
