Seeking God and Befriending Silence
by Chelsey Sanford
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on my relationship to silence and stillness.
Like many folks in this age of instant gratification and infinite distraction, most days I find myself almost compulsively filling my free moments. If I have a few minutes to spare while waiting for my morning English muffin to toast, or while standing in line at the grocery store, I might check my email or scroll through the news.
Even when this desire to fill downtime leads to more nourishing choices– like going for a hike, reading a
novel, or snuggling with my beloved pup– I can still sometimes sense my knee-jerk impulse to be doing.
Amidst the busyness and noise of life where every moment is full, I have been wondering: how will I hear the still, small voice of the Holy One?
As I’ve continued to sit with these ponderings, I have an increasingly clear sense that God is very patiently and lovingly waiting for me amidst Silence.
Across history and traditions, religious leaders and layfolk have relied on contemplative practices to foster inner quiet as a way of seeking God. While contemplation is a broad category of spiritual practices with ancient roots, modern expressions lead to an ever-evolving definition.
The Center for Action and Contemplation defines contemplation as any “practice of deep listening to better connect with ourselves and divine love.”
CAC
Starting March 1, Christ Church will offer a time for contemplative prayer at 5:15pm prior to our Wednesday Eucharist service at 5:45pm. This will be a space for curiosity and exploration as we become reacquainted with, or dare I say it, even befriend Silence. We may just stumble into God along the way.
We look forward to you joining us. All are welcome!
