The Whys and Hows of Silence. Part Two: How Can we Achieve Silence?
The Holy Cross Monastery is situated on a bluff overlooking the Hudson River, just west of Poughkeepsie, NY. (West Park, NY). Paths led through the woodland area, down to the rocky beach where one could wade, sit on a fallen tree, watching the water and hearing the waves. That opportunity in itself is relaxing, and I encourage all busy people to find their own space of water near their homes for meditation and relaxation.But being in the monastery with contemplative monks offered so much more. When I was in their cloister I was asked to obey the Benedictine rule of silence. So from 8:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. there was no talking. The fourteen monks and the twenty lay visitors ate breakfast in silence, no conversation allowed. We ate lunch and listened to a monk read about a saint or martyr. Supper was more informal. (We could finally talk!) Cell phones were turned off always. Necessary muted electronics were only allowed at certain times in a common area.Five times throughout the day, a Brother pulled the bell cord at the Chapel. While it tolled, we quietly made our way to sanctuary where a life-size crucifix overlooked our worship. Silence was laced throughout the services. When we chanted Scripture in a recitative manner, we would pause (one, two, three seconds) before responding. The pace was slow. The built-in pauses pregnant with silence. Minutes of silence were added after the monk’s short message, motivating us to sit and ponder what we had heard. We left in silence.My take-away from all this was the importance of intentionally inviting periods of silence into my daily routine. I hope I can do the following:— I would like to sit quietly without the distraction (or threat of interruption) of phone calls and texts several times a day. No emails pinging in. No TV mumbling in the background. I believe a working person or a mother with children can plan to do this, with intention, by telling the people around her that is her goal. She could start with brief periods (three to five minutes) and increase the interval over time.— I would like to plan three to five times during the day when I hear “the bell toll”. This will signal me to pull away and slowly read portions of God’s word out loud. I hope to stay in a contemplative mode and meditate on the Word. Perhaps incorporating these periods with meals would work well for families, as we teach our children to relax, put away their electronics, turn off the tv, and connect with God.— I want to carry this model of silence into my relationships, and become increasingly comfortable to sit in silence with other people and enjoy our connectedness. I pray I can let go of my expectations that being with someone means we need to share news, solve problems, make jokes, and promote ideas. May the silence highlight the person’s presence and the joy of my just being WITH him or her. The person to whom I want to relate in silence can certainly be God Himself.Oh, LORD, that you would help me to be quiet, to cease striving, to be silent before you. This way I will know that you are God. That is all I need. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
