Psalm 62:5-8 (NRSV)

5 For God alone my soul waits in silence,
    for my hope is from him.

6 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

7 On God rests my deliverance and my honor;
    my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.

8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
    pour out your heart before him;
    God is a refuge for us. Selah

Reflection:
Several years ago, I went on a silent retreat. For those of you who know me, this will probably come as a shock. Why in the world did this gregarious, talkative man decide to do this? A silent retreat? Are you kidding? Why did Bill do it?

The truth is that it was a required assignment for a graduate class I was taking on Spiritual Formation. I had no choice. I had to do it. For forty-eight hours, I was to be non-verbal. No cell phone. No television. No watch. No verbal exchanges of any kind. The first day nearly killed me. I thought I was going to have to put duct tape over my mouth. When I passed others, I had to grit my teeth not to speak to them. But after a while, I began to see things I had never noticed before: the various colors of the leaves in the bushes and trees, the incredible variety of clouds in the sky. I heard things, like the breeze in the trees, chirping crickets, the amazing variety of songs from birds.

Slowly, I began to ease into the silence. I found that eating alone, with no conversation, made me keenly aware of the colors and taste of food, and the variety of the items on my plate. During the day I found myself walking a labyrinth. I took time to sit and sketch at a drawing table. I actually wrote a couple of poems.

I could not believe it. Slowly, and ever more slowly, I was drawn into the silence and began to listen with all my senses to what God was “speaking” to me. It was indescribable. The seduction of this holy silence was incredibly real.

I came to understand why Christians would choose this lifestyle in their walk with Jesus. Now don’t misunderstand me. I have been on many wonderful religious retreats. I have. Each was special, with much singing, praying, and praising, but this was different. I experienced God in a way that went to the core of my being. And I have never been quite the same.

It’s hard to believe that this Extrovert, with a capital E, could have this side to him, but I do. Since that retreat, there have been many times that I just drink in the silence, and God never fails to speak to me.

Who knew?

“For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.”

Closing Prayer:
Loving and Eternal God,
Continue to slap a piece of divine duct tape over my mouth, from time to time. Do it, I ask, that I might discern what you have to reveal to me.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.