Silence is Golden

Silence is a value not much appreciated in today's world. With iPhones, IPads, cell phones, and other electronic devices, people are always in contact with others or listening to music. If there is no noise people get nervous or uncomfortable. Mindless chatter seems as necessary as cold water in 100- degree heat.
 
Yet how do we hear the whisperings of the Spirit if we are always talking? How do we know if God responds to our prayer when we are never listening? We need quiet times to refresh our spirits after being constantly bombarded by words. We also need times of rest for enjoying the beauties of nature and the universe. We need silence to reflect on our lives and to be grateful for our blessings.

The psalmist says, "Be still and know that I am God."(46:19) Busyness keeps us from taking time to be quiet. Many of us task-oriented and drive ourselves to get things done. We think we don't have time to be still, yet when we do, we become more focused and attentive. It helps us put things in perspective and realize that God is in charge and will provide what we need.

Many people have found meditation or centering prayer helpful in quieting our negative thoughts and calming our interior anxiety. We may use a mantra or focus on an object to clear out the clutter in our minds. If we do this daily for 15-20 minutes, we will have more peace and actually accomplish a lot more.



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