The Beauty Of Silence

The Beauty of Silence

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.

Psalm 62:5 (ESV)

Autumn has a way of quieting the land. Creatures work diligently to prepare for winter. The Amish, who were previously active outside, find themselves sitting before a fire or around the table. Yet even inside large homes filled with children there isn’t the noise you expect. There’s no television or music playing or senseless chatter.

The Amish use their words sparingly. When people are deeply involved with each other, there is a pervasive communication with a minimum use of words. Collective awareness develops to such an extent that it becomes a religious experience—an involvement that cannot be uttered in words. Silence functions as an effective conveyor of information.

Deep commitments to the faith tend to be silent rather than vocal. Prayers before and after meals are periods of uninterrupted silence. Sundays at home are spent in silence—hammering, building, and loud noises are not permitted. Silence is a defense against fright or the unknown. Silence is a way of living and forgiving, a way of embracing the community with charity. The member who confesses all before the church is forgiven, and the sin is never spoken of again.

How well do you incorporate silence into your day? Your week? I have a habit of turning on music in the car or listening to an audiobook when I’m folding laundry. But sometimes I feel a gentle stirring deep inside that says, Just be quiet before Me.

Silence gives your mind time to seek clarity. Silence gives your body a chance to release all the tension that has built up. And remaining silent about another’s minor faults encourages that person to do the same with yours.

Can you find time for silence in your home, with your family, and even with offhand comments? Are there things you want to speak of but about which you know you should hold your tongue instead? Silence not only protects others but also guards your own heart and allows God’s whispers to penetrate deep. Try it.

Dear heavenly Father, sometimes I speak before I think . . . and sometimes I just need to stop speaking so I can meditate on You. Please give me Your strength to seal my lips.