Finding God in the Quiet

***Note: this sermon was more experiential than most, making the translation to just words, difficult.

We live in such a loud world. To “unplug” ourselves takes a lot of work---turning off the ringers of our phones, disabling our email, texts and tweets. Shutting off the tv and the radio, the iPod and the ear buds. It is becoming more and more rare to sit in silence.
 But silence, resting in the quiet murmur of creation, is so important.
For it is in this rest, in this quiet, in this silence that we can connect with the Holy, with the Divine.
Jesus knew this:
“The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him all they had done and taught. He said to them, “come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest awhile.”
Jesus was teaching the apostles “self-care.” He knew that they wouldn’t be any good to anyone if they didn’t take care of themselves, if they didn’t spend time alone, in the solitude of quiet. Because, as Jesus knew from his own study of scripture and as countless mystics and teachers have discovered since the time of Jesus: we meet God in the silence.
Consider your daily life, how much silence to you have? How can, how do we meet God if we have so darn much background noise?
In that spirit, I invite you to spend a few minutes with me, exploring quiet and engaging silence:
I will ring this singing bowl, wait a few seconds, read some sacred text, wait about a minute in silence while the words settle into our ears, and our hearts and minds settle into a space of quiet.
I’ll then repeat this process several more times. Sit back and receive whatever the quiet of these next few minutes brings you:

RING BOWL

“For You alone my soul waits in silence; my hope is from the Beloved…
In Silence rests my freedom and my guidance;
for You are the Heart of my heart,
You speak to me in the silence. ” (Psalm 62 paraphrase, Nan Merrill)

[45 seconds]

RING BOWL

11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand at the mountain before the Lord. The Lord is passing by.” A very strong wind tore through the mountains and broke apart the stones before the Lord. But the Lord wasn’t in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake. But the Lord wasn’t in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake, there was a fire. But the Lord wasn’t in the fire. After the fire, there was a sound. Thin. Quiet. (1 Kings 19:11-12 CEB)

[45 seconds]

RING BOWL

22 Right then, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead to the other side of the lake while he dismissed the crowds. 23 When he sent them away, he went up onto a mountain by himself to pray. Evening came and he was alone. (Mark 14:22-23, CEB)

[45 seconds]

RING BOWL

Let God do God’s work within you. Say a loud no to This World and a quiet Yes to God.  (The Message paraphrase of James 4:8]

[45 seconds]

RING BOWL

O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP Prayer 59)
RING BELL

Silence can be frightening, for in silence the truth cries out. But it is only in silence, it is only in quiet, it is only in rest that we can hear the still small voice of the  abundant Love we know as God.
May you find a place for quiet this coming week. And may God find you there, waiting.


Amen.