FEBRUARY 3
Silence is the strength of our interior life...If we fill our lives
with silence, then we will live in hope.
—THOMAS MERTONThere is a delicate balance between socializing and being
quietly alone. Too much socializing can be an attempt to
run away from our difficult truth. Too much solitude can
leave us brooding and withdrawn.
But wait. Not all silence is in solitude. Quaker meetings
for worship are largely experiences of collective silence.
Sometimes we feel closest to others when we are silent to-
gether.
Still, most silence takes place when we are alone, and we
would do well to recognize its value. Over the past years
we have heard of the physical value of meditative silence—in
lowering blood pressure, slowing the heart, even facilitating
some kinds of healing. We know that under many circum-
stances a few moments of silence can feed our spirits.
So in our healing from the wounds of grief, a generous
amount of silence will help us rest into the depths of our
own souls, and find peace.
I will not be afraid to be still. I will savor the refreshments of si-
lence. Perhaps the spirit of my loved one will join me there.