My earliest memories of libraries are those of stern librarians saying, "Shhhh!"
We often struggle with silence, but scripture affirms that silence is good for our soul.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta wrote some very important words about prayer and silence.
“We need to find God, and He cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - - trees, flowers, grass - - grow in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence. We need silence to be able to touch souls.” (“Something Beautiful for God.”)
Henri Nouwen was a Roman Catholic priest and psychologist. He taught at Yale, Harvard and Notre Dame, and authored over twenty books.
He wrote: “Without solitude it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life. Solitude begins with a time and a place for God, and Him alone. If we really believe not only that God exists but also that He is actively present in our lives - - healing, teaching and guiding - - we need to set aside a time and a space to give Him our undivided attention.” (“Making All Things New”)
Jesus said, “Go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place.” (Matthew 6:6, Jerusalem Bible)
Perhaps today we need to listen to the librarians who say, “Shhhhh.” Maybe in doing so, we will hear the whisper of God deep in our soul.
The Bible declares, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
Comments