The other night at our Prayer Chaplain meeting something wonderful was shared.

This is from Henri Nouwen’s Out of Solitude.

“‘That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were suffering from diseases of one kind or another; he also cast out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was. In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, wand went off to a lonely place and prayed there. Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, “Everybody is looking for you.” He answered “Let us go elsewhere, to the neighboring country towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came.” And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogoues and casting out devils. (Mark 1:32-39) “In the morning long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there.” In the middle of sentences loaded with action – healing suffering people, casting out devils, responding to impatient disciples, traveling from town to town and preaching from synagogue to synagogue – we find the quiet words: ‘In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there.’ In the center of breathless activities we hear a restful breathing. Surrounded by hours of moving we find a moment of stillness. In the heart of much involvement there are words of withdrawal. In the midst of action there is contemplation. And after much togetherness there is solitude. The more I read this nearly silent sentence locked in between the loud words of action, the more I have the sense that the secret of Jesus’ ministry is hidden in that lonely place where he went to pray, early in the morning, long before dawn.”

WOW! This hit me, how many times did I hurry through life? How many times did I feel the need to be doing rather than being? How much time did I take to sit in the silence, waiting to hear the answers that I so longingly wanted from outside of myself? Jesus’ great example of how to handle the hustle and bustle of our everyday life is to take that quiet time for meditation. The best answers are always found in the silence. He even shared how his disciples became impatient with him for taking that time. How many times do we allow others to take those quiet moments from us?

“The words I say to you I do not speak as from myself: it is the Father, living in me, who is doing the work.” (Jn14:10)  “I can do nothing by myself… my aim is to do not my own will, but the will of him who sent me.” (Jn5:30)

During the silence, during meditation, when we let go of the business of our days, and quiet our minds… it is then that we connect to the Divine, to our Source, to our Father God. All of life’s questions and answers begin in the silence.

Honor yourself by taking some time for yourself, go into the silence, it doesn’t have to be before dawn, but a time and place that you won’t be interrupted, where you can enjoy the stillness. I personally, like to go into the water, (I’m fortunate to have a pool), and float. I feel the sun on my face and hear the quiet sounds of nature. It is a time of bliss, where all kinds of wonderful thoughts come into my being. I also like to go into my studio and bead, the monotony and repetitiveness of the process of beading is very meditative. Choose a time and a place that works for you, let go of all the demands of the day, and go into the silence. You deserve this wonderful blissful connection. Namaste and have a great day!