A Time to be in Silence

I was away for a couple of days this week, at an educational event. Both days were filled with meaningful teaching, enlivening conversations with pastors and church leaders, scripture reading, music and laughter during meals together.

But in the midst of all the welcome words, there was also a time of silence that was refreshing and memorable. My hotel room was on the highest level, and located near a small airport. As night fell, a full moon appeared, beautifully visible through thin clouds. I was so drawn to that view - the moon, the darkness and the occasional lights of a small plane gliding through the scene - that I turned off the room lights so I could just sit in silence and watch it through my window for a while.

In that silence, something was given that seemed to touch my soul. That's often the case, isn't it? -  we are so used to words and music surrounding us, engaging us, almost every moment of every day - that a special time of quietness feels remarkable, and reminds us that there is much in us that is deeper than words, and that needs its own space from time to time.

The Ten Commandments, such important words that are part of the Covenant relationship God offers to humanity, begin with the Hebrew letter "Aleph" - which is silent.  Hebrew scholars have suggested we can understand that God's powerful words spring from a depth of silence, deeper than words. We'll be considering that this Sunday in worship, when Jim shares a message on Exodus 20:1-17, A Silence to Begin.

One of the gifts we can give ourselves during Lent is to choose to make some time to be in silence. See what unfolds in your mind and memories, your heart and hopes. Take a breath, and see if it seems that God is near, silently "breathing" love, and presence, and healing upon you, too.