Silence Matters
As a teenager and moving into adulthood, I spent a lot of time with my friends being philosophical. We loved to pose questions that made us think, and more importantly, made us feel intelligent. We would talk and debate these questions for hours, especially at night. In the summer we would lie in a school field and look at the stars while we debated, and grappled with the question. I miss those days, because life seemed simpler. What got me reflecting on all of this is the question that popped into my head today: “If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” The question forces us to think about whether reality exists independently of us - or whether meaning requires a witness. As a teenager it touched on the question of whether or not something matters if no one notices? Is an unobserved moment still meaningful? This question strikes a chord with us because it speaks to a deeply held human fear. What if my life happens and no one sees it? Do I matter if no one notices me? From a very young age we want to be known, we want to have our life matter and that doesn’t change as we age. This realization can be very humbling. We discover that the world does not exist to perform for us, instead we exist to listen, receive, and steward.
I find comfort in faith, because I believe that God is always there to witness. God hears the cry of the oppressed. God notices me and knows me, and just because things are not perceived doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. Our faith teaches us that silence and stillness are essential to our daily lives. It is when we are still, and in silence that God is often encountered. Silence becomes a meeting place, not because God arrives or appears but because we finally stop talking long enough to notice, and stop trying to control our existence. Silence helps us to practice simply being. It is silence that loosens our grip on productivity and performance. In silence, truth rises. It helps us understand what matters, and what hurts. This is the moment when it is the hardest to stay in silence. This is when we become uncomfortable. But if we can stay in the silence just a bit longer those fears and doubts slowly dissipate. Then we can re-center ourselves. It helps us return to what is most essential. We are then reminded of who we are beneath our roles, our words, and our defenses. Our hearts begin to open more and our love deepens - both the love for ourselves and the love of God and others. Silence doesn’t take something away, it actually gives something back.
What gift will some time of silence give you today? I invite you to be silent, and after a while when you are truly grounded and calm, reach out and talk to someone about your hopes and dreams and what you have discovered.
Blessings,
Rev. Karen