He Gets Me

One of my favorite authors and theologians is Henri Nouwen. I discovered this favoritism while I was at Christ in the Desert. Nouwen was one of our assigned authors. In the book, "The Only Necessary Thing" compiled and edited by Wendy Wilson Greer, I found more quotes than I could imagine that spoke directly to my being, especially about silence.

"Silence is the discipline that helps us to go beyond the entertainment quality of our lives"..."we may find silence in nature, in our own houses, in a church or meditation hall. But wherever we find it, we should cherish it. Because it is in silence that we can truely acknowledge who we are and gradually claim ourselves as a gift from God. At first silence might frighten only frighten us. In silence we start hearing the voices of darkness: our jealousy and anger, our resentment and desire for revenge, our list and greed, and our pain over losses, abuse, and rejections"..."But of we have the discipline to stay put and not let these dark voices intimidate us, they will gradually lose their strength and recede into the background, creating space for the softer, gentler voices of the light..."

This exerpt comes from Nouwen's book, "Can You Drink the Cup?" I relate so much to the first part of this quote. I fear silence! I fear all of it. How can God be in the silence if all of these things in my head are clouding His voice. It is so difficult to get to the point to just be with God, but Nouwen is clear that over time and effort and help...we can recognize the love and encounters with Christ in silence.

My challenge, friends, is that we engage in silence starting whatever new chapter, middle of chapter, or end of a chapter you may be in. Let me know how God is meeting with you in these times! Until Monday, Cheers! Sam Jo.