February 29, 2016 Happy Leap Day
The gift of silence may be one of the most difficult of the disciplines since we live in such an oral culture. With the advent of social media and the social practices of “Skyping” and other “face-to-face” communications over our devices, we have become accustomed to constantly be communicating, especially orally, with the world.

The discipline of silence, including Not speaking and/or spending time in a quiet place in order to quiet our minds and whole self and attend to God’s presence can be a true blessing in this noisy world. Silence in the form of “Not” speaking also allows us to have some silence so that we can listen to others and bless them.

Taking on this discipline can be “off-putting” to those we encounter. Most people will not know what to do if you inform them (I suggest a card where you have written an explanation of your discipline) that you have taken a day of “silence”. I think it would benefit all of us to take a day where we listen more and talk less, if not at all. I don’t think any of us understand how much we crave having others listen to our stories, our encounters, and our problems. Wouldn’t it be great to purposely close our own mouths and open our ears to the concerns, the blessings, the needs, and the struggles of the others in our lives?

Of course, I don’t think I have to tell you how wonderful it is to be in a quiet place. I remember being in the White Mountains of New Hampshire on a hiking trip, and listening to the “deafening” noise of silence. When we are accustomed to the constant whirring of machines and the buzzing of devices, silence becomes foreign to our lives. But silence should be a blessing. It is in the silence of the world where we possibly might be able to engage with the still small voice of G-d speaking to us through the Holy Spirit.

Take some time to immerse yourself in silence this Lent – it may just open you up to a voice you have been craving to hear for some time – the voice of G-d that rings clear in silence.

Pastor Dave