Silence as a Spiritual Practice

I crave silence – long, beautiful interludes of quiet (internal and external) that offer deep peace and understanding. This year my focus during Lent is on realigning with God, my faith and my purpose – moments of silence will be my spiritual practice.

Life seems to go a million miles a minute, rushing from place to place, the list of to-dos is never ending. It is often hard to turn off your brain, difficult to catch your breath; you feel as if you are drowning – overwhelmed by it all. Like many, this is the season of life I am in – I don’t share this as a form of complaint, I’m fortunate to be blessed with wonderful opportunities. However, in the midst of the busyness, I feel a strong need to pause.

And so, this Lent I will take deliberate steps to realign; to reflect and remember who I am (who we all are), a beloved child of God. Taking time to be still, to pray, to listen to the Divine and remember the grace I am graciously offered daily.

The busyness is not inherently bad, but it has caused me to lose focus. I welcome this time of reflection, a much-needed reminder to reconnect to spiritual truths.

Lent comes providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy.

– Pope Francis

I’ve always considered it a gift that Lent comes as a beacon of light in late February and early March when the winter days seemingly go on without end. Lent brings hope with the renewal of life emerging in Spring. The song of the robin, the buds bursting forth on the trees, reminds us of the miracles surrounding us. As I celebrate the mysterious wonder of it all, I will be mindful to carve out time each day to pause, to pray and to pour over words – scripture and other inspirational texts. Allowing the truth of it to speak to my soul. Reflecting and realigning requires quiet moments with God to listen and focus on what grace reveals.

In a world that is constantly noisy and filled with distractions – twenty-four-hour television, phones, packed schedules – I seek silence and deeper connection with the Divine this Lent. There is a clarity that comes in the silence.