February Spiritual Practice: Silence
For February, let’s start the practice of intentional silence - with the goal being that this practice can be developed throughout the year.
It is a simple practice, really. There is no other purpose to this time except to be silent - including being silent in your thoughts. Being still, being quiet, and being present are the keys to this spiritual practice - and this one really is a PRACTICE. Years of working to be still, silent, and present and yet I still feel like a novice. And we are all novices - even one of my spiritual guides, Richard Rohr, describes himself as a novice after practicing silence for decades!
This is not meant to discourage you, but to encourage you! Let go of expectations of “getting something out of it” and “doing well.” Those seem like great ideas but can really just fill us with shame or disappointment. The practicing of silence IS the goal. Being faithful to showing up to your practice is what the Spirit works with to form us and connect with us.
So, some “how to”:
Choose a short time to start so as to not get discouraged...Honestly I would start with 30 seconds to 5 minutes. Set a timer so you are not worried about it and get comfortable. [Maybe not laying down, as if I were you, I would probably fall asleep. But also, if you fall asleep sitting up in silence, take it as a sign from God that she granted you a nap!] Start your timer. Close your eyes to shut out visual distractions. Be gracious with yourself if you can’t get away from all sound. (Looking at you, parents - I get it!) As you sit with your eyes closed, ask God to sit with you...try to still your thoughts. In those still moments, be present to what is without the need to control, fix, or change anything about yourself or this moment. If a thought arises, acknowledge it, don’t engage with it, and let it go, like a boat sailing down a river or an actor exiting stage left. [For those of you who will worry that a thought arose that you need to remember, have a piece of paper ready to write it down so that you don’t have to worry about forgetting it!] At the end of your time of silence, thank God for your time with her. That’s it!
As the month progresses, see if longer is feasible for you. If it isn’t, there is NO shame in that! Some days I can only get in a few minutes!
I’m looking forward to engaging at the end of the month with everyone to see how their experience of silence went. Below are some quotes that can help you as you start your journey with this practice - my hope is that these words encourage you to find rest in the silence you engage in.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. - Mark 1:35-38
“And yet the soul, despite its toughness, is also essentially shy—just like a wild animal. It will flee from the noisy crowd and seek safety in the deep underbrush. If we want to see a wild animal, we know that the last thing we should do is go crashing through the woods yelling for it to come out! But if we will walk into the woods quietly and sit at the base of a tree, breathing with the earth and fading into our surroundings, the wild creature we seek may eventually show up.” - Parker Palmer
“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.” - Thomas Merton
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength” - Isaiah 30:15
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” - Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)
Kids’ Version
Our practice this month is to try to sit still and quiet for 30 seconds to 1 minute each day.
Help your parent find a good way to keep time for you - a tablet, a clock, or a kitchen timer would all work well. Pick a spot you like and feel comfortable in to practice this month. Maybe you could even decorate it or make it cozy - it’s up to you - but it should feel like a place you WANT to be.
Have your parent set the timer for 30 seconds the first day just to get a feel for what you are trying to do.
Once the timer starts, close your eyes, remember God is with you, picture a good thing (your choice of what feels good to think about!), and try to keep your body still so your mind isn’t distracted from your good thing until the timer goes off.
[Parents, if you know or think your child would never sit still for even 30 seconds or the idea of closing their eyes to think about a good thing is beyond them, that is okay! As an alternative your child could try doing the same calming motion for 30 seconds. This motion could be anything, really. Maybe using their hand over their heart and patting out their heartbeat. Tapping their toes - right foot - left foot - while tilting their head side-to-side. Ask them to only think about the motion if they are able. Practicing it with them might go a long way too! You know your child best. Is there a way to draw them into something for a short time to let them sink into their present being? For more ideas, please contact Vicky Brown at viclyn2000@gmail.com.]
How did you do? Was it hard? Was it easy? No worries either way! The idea is to try this a few days in a row and maybe into the month to see if you can get the hang of it. It’s not a contest but a way to practice remembering that God is with you that’s easy, simple, and cozy. Remember, if you want to go shorter, that’s okay! And going longer is okay too! I can’t wait to hear how it went. And remember, you can still be writing down gratitudes like we did in January. Being thankful is a lifelong journey!