We’ve all been there before. Standing alone on an elevator, one stranger steps on, no words spoken and hoping the journey will soon end, the silence is …awkward.
Let’s face it, human beings living in the 21st century are not naturally inclined to dealing with silence. We talk (a lot), we watch, we listen, we engage, but we rarely “go to stillness”.
And the world? Oh, the world hates silence. I don’t normally quote Billy Corgan, lead singer of The Smashing Pumpkins, but I think he was correct in singing, “the world is a vampire” (Bullet with Butterfly Wings, 1995). And what does this vampire seek? Our time, energy and attention of course. All things that distract us from hearing the voice of God.
In a recent Catholic Bros Instagram poll, 72% of Catholics stated they spend “almost none” or “very little” time in total silence. We are a smothered people, crushed under the heavy boot of noise, distraction and shiny objects. It is notable to consider that those polled have biases toward a prayer life. Even the faithful among us are challenged to find stillness, away from the hustle and bustle of our busy world.
As we watch a myriad of societal ills increase to unfathomable levels; suicide, depression, obesity, murder, divorce, it is important to recognize that the world searches for the easy button. How can I find a solution for as little work as possible? A pill, a book, a Podcast. But with everything, God demands more of us. His precious voice will not be denigrated to a mere commodity, something easy to discover. Anything easily attained is a commodity and in the end has little value. No, His voice is at a premium. A voice that can only be attained and heard by traveling the harder path. It gives true meaning to Jesus’ words, “Knock and door shall be opened.”
Is it possible then, there is an anecdote to our societal ills that nobody is talking about? A more simple and powerful tool which costs nothing? Maybe the answer is…Silence!
Expert Voices
Cardinal Robert Sarah. In his book, The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise, Cardinal Sarah states, “God’s first language is silence. Everything else is a poor translation. In order to hear that language, we must learn to be still and to rest in God.”
Henry David Thoreau was clear in saying, “I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.” (Life in Woods, 1854).
In his book, Life of Christ (which every person should read BTW), Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen says, “Silence is not the absence of sound, but the presence of eternity.”
And What do the Saints say about Silence?
“We need to find God, and He cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence.” – St. Teresa of Calcutta
“Silence is the beginning of prayer.” – St. Augustine of Hippo
“Silence is a sword in the spiritual struggle. A talkative soul will never attain sanctity.” – St. Faustina Kowalska
“Let us keep silence, for in silence the Spirit speaks.” – St. Ambrose of Milan
“It is better to be silent and be, than to talk and not be.” – St. Ignatius of Antioch
Conclusion
All of this prompts us to ask the question – Is God’s voice unwittingly snuffed out right before our very eyes? In our very households? Among our families? In our Church? Is this possible?
If God says, be still and know that I am God. Then Satan surely says, be busy, tired and overwhelmed and know that I am Satan. We need to rest. We need downtime. We need silence.
It is almost like Satan knows there is great power in silence. As Catholics, we know there is great power in God‘s ability to speak to us directly when we are not distracted. How many more Saints would there be if there was more silence? How many less abortions? How much less stress and depression? How many less murders?
We may never know.
As tragic events occur, we often see the mob hastily rush to the podium to ask the worldly question…where is your God? I believe the answer is, He is here. He has always been here. We just cannot hear Him.
Maybe the answer is…silence!
