The Power of Silence
A friend of mine went through an entire weekend of NO electronics. No TV, no radio, no computers, and the hardest part –NO cell phone usage. It reminded me of a few sacred times in my life.
I had the privilege of being gifted a Silent Retreat — Twice! The weekend is spent at a retreat center. A room is provided, three meals a day, and activities such as drawing, painting, a walk through nature, and a few more guided activities led without a word spoken.
Pack up and Go
It begins on a Friday night. The attendees are given instructions for the weekend; what is available to do if one gets a bit antsy. The instruction to remain quiet, without speaking, when sitting at the table to eat our meals, was a challenge. “Pass the salt” is all done but only with body language. When passing in the hallways, a nod or a smile is the extent of communication.
Time seems to slow down. The rush of receiving information ceases. The mind turns inward. The body relaxes. Breathing is deeper and noticed. At first, there is a sense of withdrawal but it becomes easier by early Saturday morning. You start noticing nuances, such as the aromas of food, the taste of every morsel. The feeling of a soft breeze or the chill of the cold on your skin is amplified. It’s an amazing experience to feel something that has been distracted by the constant barrage of biased opinions. There is no music, simply quiet.
Becoming Aware
I stayed in my room a lot of the time to pray, meditate, and write down my thoughts from studying the scripture. Other times, I took a book out to the fireplace to read only to find myself enamored by the crackling of the fire, and the wisps of flames as they flickered, never repeating a pattern; they seemed pleased to show off their unique expressions with each flair of brief existence — Amazing!
You form a kinship with the individuals experiencing the same solitude. You know nothing of their prejudices, their political or religious opinions, and they know nothing of you. They become brothers and sisters. Love becomes apparent in the way you feel. It’s a spiritual experience hard to explain unless you spend the time at an event like this for yourself.
Winding Down
Sunday night afternoon, after lunch, we get together in a meeting room. We share what we have noticed about ourselves, who we are to each other, our families, our communities, and the space we take up in the world. We discover what is really important without advice from a counselor or coach. Our hurried, scattered thinking is now an object to be observed. It is easier to respond rather than react. If you have ever fasted from food for a time, you know that the first food you taste comes alive, and such it is when you begin to speak again; it becomes measured and meaningful.
Intentional Acts of Solitude
The intentional act, the surrender to quietness, and voluntarily exiting from the world of chatter for a time is something I need to do more often. I could equate it to mental surgery. To become more aware of who you are without being battered by social media, bad news in the world, and the cares that normally absorb your every second of being conscious.
Maybe you can’t get away to a retreat center for a weekend. You could turn off your cell phone, go for a walk, or just sit for 30 minutes each day in a sanctuary of quietness. Inform those around you that you need some time. Lock the door of the bedroom. Take some deep breaths, close your eyes, and be quiet. Be intentional in your own silent retreat.
