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Posted by Megan Shitama Weston ● Fri, Jan 11, 2013 @ 14:01 PM

Practicing Silence a Few Minutes at a Time

Fireplace_.jpgWhen I tell people about our upcoming Silent Day at Pecometh, people often say "A whole day of silence? That sounds hard!"  

Most of us have our days where we would give almost anything for a few moments of silence (lunch time at the Dining Hall during summer camp springs to mind, but I'm sure you have your own examples).

Of course, when we are faced with the opportunity for silence many of us are unsure of how to do the silent thing.

We turn on the radio in the car.

We have the TV on in the background at home.  

We walk through the grocery story with our earbuds in.  

When we bow our heads to pray in church we start to squirm if the person praying pauses for more than a couple seconds before begining the prayer.   

Five Minutes Peace

The key is to start small.  I always think of the children's book Five Minutes Peace, where a mom of small children is in search of - you guessed it - five minutes peace.  She tries to grab a few minutes here and a few minutes there before her kids come crashing in.  

For many of us, that's how it is when we start to try to find time for silence.    

In her book Daring Greatly, Brene Brown talks about reclaiming those moments when she's standing in line or waiting at red lights.  Instead of filling the time with checking email or texting, she has learned to just... be.  I suspect that for many of us, that's a good place to start.  

From there, we can try to intentionally carve out a few more minutes a day.  

The key is to start with a managable chunk of time (as little as 5 minutes is ok!), and keep it simple.  Focus on your breathing, and find a way to center your mind on God.  

Repeating a word or short phrase like "God is here," or focusing on an object like a lit candle can help to focus your mind on God's presence.  

Try not to think about your to-do list and the other things on your mind, but be gentle with yourself if clearing your mind proves difficult!

You don't need to make your mind a blank slate, you're just creating quiet into which God can speak.

I am not a morning person, so morning prayer and devotions don't work so well for me.  I have, however, discovered that my morning cup of coffee can be a means of grace.  

Too often my coffee goes in a travel mug and I drink it in the car, in the office, or wherever else my morning takes me.

But when I wake up early enough, I pour my coffee in a normal mug and get back into bed.

For about 15 minutes I just sip my coffee as I allow myself to slowly wake up.  

I try not to think about what I'm going to wear, or what I have to accomplish that day, but instead I focus on the warmth of the coffee, breathe slowly, and invite God into my day.  

Sometimes I'll read a few pages of something spiritually nurishing, but usually I try to just sit still and listen for God.

When I make the time, it's a really great way to start my day.  

Finding Holy Ground

If you are looking to expand your experiences of silence, you may not need to re-invent the wheel. Think about the times and places in your life where you are most at peace.  

My mom used to love to mow our lawn when we were little, because she could get up on the riding mower and just focus on creating those straight rows of mowed lawn.  The noise of the mower created a different kind of silence.  

Looking back, I think my mom discovered contemplative lawn-mowing!

Where do you find peace in your life?

Do you have a favorite chair in a quiet corner of your house?

Could you slip into the sanctuary for a few minutes before your small group meets at your church?  

Do you like to hike in the woods or work in your garden?

Heck - how about some quiet reflection when you're in the shower?  

The key is mindfulness.  It's about paying attention to how God is present in our everyday moments, and then reflecting on that presence.  

Getting Away from the Noise

Of course if you are attempting to jump-start your practice of silence, it is sometimes helpful to get away. Most of us can only focus on silent reflection in our own homes for so long before the phone rings or we remember that we need to switch the laundry.  

When you get the chance, you can spend a few hours in a park or running (if that's your thing). Maybe on your next vacation you can spend some time in silence on the beach, by the pool or on a trail.  

When we practice silence, we make room in our minds and hearts for God to speak.  Whether you are starting off with a few minutes a day or jumping into a multi-day silent retreat, God will show up in the time you set aside.  


Looking for a chance to practice silence with others?

Our Winter Silent Day is February 14, 2016 

Spend a quiet afternoon reflecting on the wonder of God's love, through silence, prayer, and guided meditation on scripture and poetry.

Topics: Faith Formation, Retreats

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