Written by Kyle Norman, a contemporary pastor, writer, speaker, and retreat leader.
Silence is a way to quiet the clamor of the frenetic world so that we can inwardly turn to that which is most important, most life giving. In silence, we meet the presence of the Lord who surrounds us each day, but for whom the frenzy of the world too often distracts us. Cultivating this silent fellowship with the Lord is vitally important for a healthy spiritual life. Even Jesus himself cultivated this practice…Jesus was never driven by the list of tasks or demands before him; he followed not societal pressures of fame or prestige; Jesus walked with the heavenly Father, and he walked with the Spirit. And even though he was God incarnate, he still needed to step away from the noise of the world to listen to the voice of the Father, and to breathe in the Spirit deeply. Ultimately, silence is more an internal quality than an outward reality. It is defined by what we are invited into, what we receive from the Lord, not about what we abstain from. Turning off the television, putting down the phone, and sitting in the absence of noise isn’t enough. We must actively open ourselves to the presence of Jesus in our midst. We seek him more than anything else. See, the purpose of silence is not to get anything out of the Lord; we seek not the answers to our questions, although that may come. We do not seek a particular mystical experience, although we may find ourselves enwrapped in one. The direction of our heart and our soul is simply to be with the one who is the lover of our soul, and our heart’s delight. Silence is about being with Jesus.
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray. [Luke 5:16]
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