And one more (added to those below) , on silence:
"The most basic spiritual practice is learning silence. Practicing silence is an act of faith precisely because one cannot know for certain that anything is to be gained from it. It might be a waste of that most precious commodity: time. . . . "
Continue reading here.
Not the final word, though.
A couple of days ago I visited with First Spiritual Director (more on that later), in town for the holidays, and last night went to mass with the Carmelites, which he was celebrating. He preached on Mary and Elizabeth, on God's activity in the midst of activity and noise. (Those women are NOT silent in that particular episode!)
Activity and noise have been hard things for me since Josh died; it's as if my inner shell is made of transparent and flimsy paper, easily battered and crumpled. (My outer shell is apparently as solid as armor.) And so I've been working on silence. I've needed a lot of silence in order to make it through the activity and noise.
It was good to be reminded, in one twelve-hour period, that God is in all things, including both the practice of silence and the practice of noise.
Cross-posted in Advent blog.
Cross-posted in Advent blog.
I have signed up for my August time of silence, but need to practice more while not at Wernersville
ReplyDeleteAugust, huh? I was thinking about July.
ReplyDeleteAugust is when I have time off from teaching, if you come let us know no matter what month it is.
ReplyDeleteIf (IF) I am pastoring a church by then, July is the best month in which to vanish for a week. Also depends on whether a certain director is there.
ReplyDeletethis summer I have finally signed up early enough to be directed by a woman who guided me twice in the past. Often if she is full, I just let her and the spirit assign me to someone.
ReplyDeleteinteresting... a new world for me. you've introduced me to all kinds of new things, my friend. many thanks.
ReplyDelete