Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

UU Collective

Home
New Visions
Making Room for Silence

Making Room for Silence

Last updated on: June 1, 2012 at 3:10 pm by Alicia Forde

Making Room for Silence 2012-06-01T15:10:33-06:00 Alicia Forde

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

In his poem “Keeping Quiet” Pablo Neruda begins with this:

Now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still.

For once on the face of the earth,
let’s not speak in any language;
let’s stop for one second,
and not move our arms so much.

It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines;
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.

As I read it, I am thinking: The well is dry.

Have you had those times in your own life?

Those times when try as you might to find restoration within

there is nothing there

only parched, dry, places, yearning for a drop of something to

make it to the next moment.

It feels crusty doesn’t it?

The incessant rush of activity that pushes from behind

or pulls at us, tugging without ceasing.

“Without ceasing.”

Often, during our morning check-in, my spiritual companion

will set her intention for the day to “pray without ceasing”

borrowing from Annie Dillard.

I have often thought of that prayer as one with words,

whether they are spoken out loud or remain caught in my throat,

swirling in my mind, dancing in my heart…they were always words.

But. Dillard isn’t talking about words.

In fact, she says: “the silence is all there is”

she says “pray to the silence.”

And I think: move right into the silence. Parched and wanting respite from

a life of constant motion.

Recently, I read something that caught my attention:

“Cornelia is ninety-four years old. She is a beloved founding member

of the board of Bread for the Journey.

Every afternoon she rests – if she can, so busy is her daily

schedule of appointments – because when she rests things fall away,

she says, and come clearer.”

Every afternoon, in the midst of her busy daily schedule, she rests.

She pauses

She restores

She, in the silence, makes room for stresses to fall away.

For life to grow clearer.

That…working and resting every day is a recipe for

nourishing the soul…

Is a kind of praying without ceasing.

Using the hands and heart;

welcoming the stillness,

the silence.

Neruda, says it this way as he closes his poem:

What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.

If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.
Perhaps the earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive.

Now I’ll count up to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.

Previous Post

May 30, 2012

Who Would Jesus Fence Off?

Next Post

June 2, 2012 Flower Communion

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category #9/11 Abortion Class community conflict Digital Life Diversity Divorce Environmental issues Evangelism Faith Development Foregiveness Garden glbt Gratitude Grief Healing health care Holidays Hospitality Interfaith LGBT Issues Military Service Mortality Orlando Parenting Peace Politics Power Prayer Racism Relationships Religion Scripture Senior citizens Sermons simplicity Social Justice Spirituality Sports Sustainability Uncategorized Unitarian Universalist Values Women's Issues World Community Worship

Select a Month August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Why did Jesus wash His disciples' feet?

Select your answer to see how you score.

They asked Him to To show humble service Tradition only To clean them for eating