Let The Silence Begin

Most of the time when I share with someone I’m going on a seven day silent retreat the reaction is always the same:

“You’re going to do what? For how long?”

Yes. For seven days, other than a daily half-hour spiritual direction appointment, silence reigns.

Even though I’ve been going on these retreats for years and know what to expect, initially I always feel trepidation. It’s not just you.  I too say to myself, “Hmmm, seven days feels like a long time.”

Though I’ve come to understand how the silence will affect me, what happens in me is always on God’s terms that is always a surprise. Here’s what I can expect: 

Day 1-2:  Silence is always my best friend. I can’t wait to get into the peace, quiet and nothingness.

Day 3-4:  Silence slowly becomes my enemy.  At this point, the silence is deafening and I wonder if I can hang on.

Day 5-6:  Silence is my home.  God is present and closer to me than I am to myself.  I want to bask in God’s Presence.  His voiceless Voice says nothing and everything.

Day 7:  Gratitude swells like an ocean and I am ready to walk back into my life with a renewed sense of I am not alone. All is well, and all will be well. 

When I was packing, I started feeling trepidation. I thought, what in the world is that about?! Most times I’m so looking forward to the retreat I can’t wait. “How can this be?” I thought to myself. Rather than get caught up engaging that thought and feeling, I just proceeded to pack and move forward with my day. As the evening hour approached and I got in my car to drive to the retreat house, I noticed the trepidation and doubt had disintegrated, no longer weighing on me. It happens, when we are heading into something that is completely God lead, doubt and trepidation try to engage us.

You don’t necessarily even have to go on a silent retreat away from daily life. Silence is seeking you, let yourself be found. Though it may feel scary to you, deep inside you long for the peace that only Silence can provide. Silence is anything but silent. Intentionally turning off the external sources of noise that are seductively clamoring for attention is imperative to your wholeness, to your health. Then the rich expression of God through the universe will clear the static on the brain. I don’t mean to never listen to music, tv, videos, etc. It’s just most people are consumed with being plugged in and need to turn off and tune out. Then re-enter the world of noise with discernment.

My suggestion is to simply keep background noise turned off for 7-10 days. That’s music, etc. while driving, working, cooking, reading, etc. Then hear the sounds around you and let them draw you into the present moment. The birds chirping, wind rustling through the trees, Notice how you can pay more attention to your intention of being present to whatever it is you’re doing, cooking, working, cleaning, reading, everything can help you awaken your senses to being present to the Presence of God, here and now. 

Perhaps most importantly, ask God for the grace for whatever it is you need. Asking God for grace puts us in a place of receptivity rather than trying to make it happen on our own. Why is this such an important contemplative practice? Because most times we try too hard, too long, struggle too much before we finally become willing to receive. We try to work at our spiritual growth, at transforming our lives like we work at everything else. Then we cry out and complain to God “why aren’t you doing anything here?” All the while our ego has a white knuckle grip on our effort leaving no space for God.

Maria wants to hear from you! Tell your story or where you are in your journey.