This was so rich and beautiful. Silence is confronting, and it feels treacherous. I imagine it's because the contemplative is always in danger of dying a little more to self and being reborn. Hard and holy things.
Thank you for this reminder that the work of silence is a work that needs doing, and it deserves priority. I struggle daily to hold on to this quest. It can so quickly feel unimportant. The wonderful thing seems to be that once you have it in your heart to pursue silence, even when you fall again and again, you're never the same. The desire sticks, and it becomes harder to lull you into unconsciousness.
Yes, it does feel a little treacherous, because silence (and prayer) forces us to sit with ourselves and our own thoughts -- and if we don't like what we see/feel there, it's all too tempting to run away rather than grit our teeth and pull out the deep-rooted weeds.
I really love what you've said here about how silence "sticks" with you, "and it becomes harder to lull you into unconsciousness". Beautiful.
Thanks for sharing Jess! I went on a five day Ignatian silent retreat several years ago and experienced all the same confrontation that being silent with God and your soul brings. While the noise of the world definitely creeps back in I can always tell when I need to seek out the silence again, and it becomes not something to be afraid of but a great source of peace. Keep up the good work!
So good to hear other people's experiences! It's encouraging to hear that you now have a better perception of when you need to seek out the silence, and that after the initial storms, it thereafter becomes a place to find peace and focus again... it encourages me to keep striving for regular silence.
This was so rich and beautiful. Silence is confronting, and it feels treacherous. I imagine it's because the contemplative is always in danger of dying a little more to self and being reborn. Hard and holy things.
Thank you for this reminder that the work of silence is a work that needs doing, and it deserves priority. I struggle daily to hold on to this quest. It can so quickly feel unimportant. The wonderful thing seems to be that once you have it in your heart to pursue silence, even when you fall again and again, you're never the same. The desire sticks, and it becomes harder to lull you into unconsciousness.
Yes, it does feel a little treacherous, because silence (and prayer) forces us to sit with ourselves and our own thoughts -- and if we don't like what we see/feel there, it's all too tempting to run away rather than grit our teeth and pull out the deep-rooted weeds.
I really love what you've said here about how silence "sticks" with you, "and it becomes harder to lull you into unconsciousness". Beautiful.
Thanks for sharing Jess! I went on a five day Ignatian silent retreat several years ago and experienced all the same confrontation that being silent with God and your soul brings. While the noise of the world definitely creeps back in I can always tell when I need to seek out the silence again, and it becomes not something to be afraid of but a great source of peace. Keep up the good work!
So good to hear other people's experiences! It's encouraging to hear that you now have a better perception of when you need to seek out the silence, and that after the initial storms, it thereafter becomes a place to find peace and focus again... it encourages me to keep striving for regular silence.