We are always on. The phone, the computer, the television, the people around us, music. Our world is filled with noise and distraction, responsibilities and needs.
So, it can be very hard for us to be quiet. It seems like such a waste of time.
As I sat the other day with someone in a prayer of silence, I noticed a lot of things. There was nothing on in my house as we prayed. No dishwasher running, no phone buzzing, nothing. But there were hums, creaks, pops, and sounds everywhere. I never hear them during my every day life. I’m focused on other things, making noise of my own, or even lost in my own thoughts.
As I sit in silence, though, I can hear the small things around me. If I am outside, I notice the birds in the trees, and the breeze on my face. I can enjoy the small gifts of beauty that I pass by a hundred times a day.
It doesn’t take long. Only a minute or two, but what a gift it is.
When we pray, we don’t need to fill it with words every time. We can take a moment to be quiet and just sit with God. We can walk together for a moment without words. And in those moments, we can hear the soft whispers and sounds of grace that surround us every day. We can see the gifts of beauty that are right in front of us, but our gaze has been too long to see them.
Go ahead, take a minute.
Amazing Graces 