Interesting Green: Reflection - Nurturing The Inner Life

Source (book): "Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, Chapter 27, "A Time To Be Silent", Page 144.
By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012

PHOTO: I once saw a picture of some dead fish in the newspaper. Someone had cruelly taken them out of the water and left them to die. The fish had died gasping for air. How uncanny (mysterious) that fish should die for lack of air in an atmosphere of air.

Our days are spent in a noisy world. In this age of information, we are bombarded daily with an endless flow of words clamouring (screaming) for our attention. Words arrive by mail, email, billboards, social media, and a host of other channels, demanding "eye-time" and "ear-time" from us. Even as their claims on our time and attention increase, pushing up our stress levels, we are forced to keep on chatting - hearing words and speaking them.

We need to rediscover our need for silence, lest we drown in words and chatter. The wise man in the Bible wrote that there is "a time to be silent and a time to speak" (Ecclesiastes 3:7). Regular periods of silence are essential in Christian lives that are healthy and holy. But why is this so?

At some time or another, we may have enjoyed the silence of a remote place, such as a mountain peak or a desert. These moments of silent contemplation (examination) can bring us face to face with eternity, helping us to think about God, as well as the meaning and mystery of life. When we have experienced the refreshing potential of silence, we will realise that silence yields our most profound experience. Seeing something beautiful can cause us to break into words describing our delight at the splendour before our eyes. But some things are so breathtakingly beautiful that they literally take our breath away. Awe floods our souls, rendering us lost for words. This can happen, for instance, when we are deeply touched, having witnessed an act of love or kindness. The supremely beautiful is experienced in silence.

Likewise, the supremely painful is experienced in silence. When we are in pain, we cry aloud. However, when pain is the greatest, we suffer it in silence. The heart cracks noisily but breaks silently. The deepest suffering is wrapped in silence and offers an opening for the discovery of profound meaning and life-changing love. Notice how people going through great suffering become less talkative.

Silence helps us through some of the deepest of human experiences. A life without silence would likely be a superficial (apparent) one.

When Christians share their experiences, they sometimes talk about God's silence. Our God is not a noisy God. In fact, He sometimes seems too silent. The psalmist cried out to God: "O God, do not remain silent; do not turn a deaf ear, do not stand aloof (distant)" (Psalm 83:1). Obviously, God was too silent for the troubled psalmist, who fretted (worried) about the enemies of God's people. But was God silent because He had nothing to say? No - in fact, He was silent because He had something to say. And we can only hear what He has to say if we join Him in His silence. This may be because God, when He speaks, is often heard in a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12). If the noise level around and within us is not turned down, if we don't stop talking, we may miss what God is saying to us. Too many words can stifle (suppress) the word from God.

Silence enables us to face God, ourselves, and reality. It also helps us to face others, creating and nurturing authentic relationships. It is striking that people often talk not for communication but to mask their true selves or what lies deep within. We talk much because we are nervous. The American theologian Richard Foster wisely pointed out that we often talk to defend ourselves. [1a] And when we are silent, we feel vulnerable and fear being misunderstood and maligned. It takes guts to be silent.

Jesus is our great example. Though He spoke at considerable length, frequently preaching and teaching, He also practised silence, both during His regular times of prayer and on other occasions. When a crowd of accusers who were themselves sinful brought Him a woman caught in sin, His prophetic silence penetrated the depths of their guilty hearts (John 8:1-11). When He was himself unjustly accused at the trial before His crucifixion, He remained silent (Isaiah 53:7; Mark 14:61). Jesus' silence showed His deep trust in the Father.

Does this mean that we are to be silent all the time, as much as possible? It is clear that that is not to be so. At His trial, Christ did speak up too (John 18:19-37). Nevertheless, what He spoke had power and meaning because of the moments when He kept silent. For Christ, silence and speech nurtured each other.

One of Christ's followers, Mary of Bethany, displayed this characteristic of her Lord. When He visited her home, she sat at His feet, listening in silence to all that He said. Her sister Martha was too distracted by her tasks to enjoy the redeeming silence and refreshing stillness that would bring new and abundant life (Luke 10:38-42). When their brother Lazarus died, Martha met Jesus with a flood of words, while Mary said little. What Mary said, however, was bathed in a silence that moved Christ deeply (John 11:20-35).

Our spiritual lives must be nourished by moments of silence - not accidental brushes with silence but the disciplined practice of silence. We live in a noisy world. We must make our hearts, homes, and churches into places where silence is appreciated, nurtured, and experienced. Even our joyful praises must contain room for silence. Now that the psalms (the ancient hymns of Israel) are punctuated by the term selah, a reminder for the people to reflect in silence even in the midst of their joyful singing (e.g. Psalm 66, 67). It is no surprise, therefore, that the prophet Habakkuk wrote: "The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him" (Habakkuk 2:20). Perhaps he knew that often, when the mouth shuts, the heart opens.

Picture posted by R.Z
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I once saw a picture of some dead fish in the newspaper. Someone had cruelly taken them out of the water and left them to die. The fish had died gasping for air. How uncanny (mysterious) that fish should die for lack of air in an atmosphere of air.

Our days are spent in a noisy world. In this age of information, we are bombarded daily with an endless flow of words clamouring (screaming) for our attention. Words arrive by mail, email, billboards, social media, and a host of other channels, demanding "eye-time" and "ear-time" from us. Even as their claims on our time and attention increase, pushing up our stress levels, we are forced to keep on chatting - hearing words and speaking them.

PHOTO: Our days are spent in a noisy world. In this age of information, we are bombarded daily with an endless flow of words clamouring (screaming) for our attention. Words arrive by mail, email, billboards, social media, and a host of other channels, demanding "eye-time" and "ear-time" from us. Even as their claims on our time and attention increase, pushing up our stress levels, we are forced to keep on chatting - hearing words and speaking them.
Picture posted by Patricia Love Energy Revival Coach⚡️CPC, NLP, EFT
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We need to rediscover our need for silence, lest we drown in words and chatter. The wise man in the Bible wrote that there is "a time to be silent and a time to speak" (Ecclesiastes 3:7). Regular periods of silence are essential in Christian lives that are healthy and holy. But why is this so?

PHOTO: We need to rediscover our need for silence, lest we drown in words and chatter. The wise man in the Bible wrote that there is "a time to be silent and a time to speak" (Ecclesiastes 3:7). Regular periods of silence are essential in Christian lives that are healthy and holy.
Picture posted by 𝓩𝓪𝓲𝓻𝓪 𝓘𝓿𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓮 - 🌸🌺🏵️ Watching the peach blossoms bloom 🏵️🏵️
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At some time or another, we may have enjoyed the silence of a remote place, such as a mountain peak or a desert. These moments of silent contemplation (examination) can bring us face to face with eternity, helping us to think about God, as well as the meaning and mystery of life. When we have experienced the refreshing potential of silence, we will realise that silence yields our most profound experience. Seeing something beautiful can cause us to break into words describing our delight at the splendour before our eyes. But some things are so breathtakingly beautiful that they literally take our breath away. Awe floods our souls, rendering us lost for words. This can happen, for instance, when we are deeply touched, having witnessed an act of love or kindness. The supremely beautiful is experienced in silence.

PHOTO: At some time or another, we may have enjoyed the silence of a remote place, such as a mountain peak or a desert. These moments of silent contemplation (examination) can bring us face to face with eternity, helping us to think about God, as well as the meaning and mystery of life. When we have experienced the refreshing potential of silence, we will realise that silence yields our most profound experience. Seeing something beautiful can cause us to break into words describing our delight at the splendour before our eyes. But some things are so breathtakingly beautiful that they literally take our breath away. Awe floods our souls, rendering us lost for words. This can happen, for instance, when we are deeply touched, having witnessed an act of love or kindness. The supremely beautiful is experienced in silence.
Picture posted in Pinterest
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Likewise, the supremely painful is experienced in silence. When we are in pain, we cry aloud. However, when pain is the greatest, we suffer it in silence. The heart cracks noisily but breaks silently. The deepest suffering is wrapped in silence and offers an opening for the discovery of profound meaning and life-changing love. Notice how people going through great suffering become less talkative.

PHOTO: Likewise, the supremely painful is experienced in silence. When we are in pain, we cry aloud. However, when pain is the greatest, we suffer it in silence. The heart cracks noisily but breaks silently. The deepest suffering is wrapped in silence and offers an opening for the discovery of profound meaning and life-changing love. Notice how people going through great suffering become less talkative.
Picture posted by Becky Jorgensen
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Silence helps us through some of the deepest of human experiences. A life without silence would likely be a superficial (apparent) one.

PHOTO: Silence helps us through some of the deepest of human experiences. A life without silence would likely be a superficial (apparent) one.
Picture posted by "Amor💜al Arte"🎨🖌️ Love of Art.
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When Christians share their experiences, they sometimes talk about God's silence. Our God is not a noisy God. In fact, He sometimes seems too silent. The psalmist cried out to God: "O God, do not remain silent; do not turn a deaf ear, do not stand aloof (distant)" (Psalm 83:1). Obviously, God was too silent for the troubled psalmist, who fretted (worried) about the enemies of God's people. But was God silent because He had nothing to say? No - in fact, He was silent because He had something to say. And we can only hear what He has to say if we join Him in His silence. This may be because God, when He speaks, is often heard in a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12). If the noise level around and within us is not turned down, if we don't stop talking, we may miss what God is saying to us. Too many words can stifle (suppress) the word from God.

PHOTO: When Christians share their experiences, they sometimes talk about God's silence. Our God is not a noisy God. In fact, He sometimes seems too silent. The psalmist cried out to God: "O God, do not remain silent; do not turn a deaf ear, do not stand aloof (distant)" (Psalm 83:1). Obviously, God was too silent for the troubled psalmist, who fretted (worried) about the enemies of God's people. But was God silent because He had nothing to say? No - in fact, He was silent because He had something to say. And we can only hear what He has to say if we join Him in His silence. This may be because God, when He speaks, is often heard in a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12). If the noise level around and within us is not turned down, if we don't stop talking, we may miss what God is saying to us. Too many words can stifle (suppress) the word from God.
Picture posted by Aliona Gon4aruk

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Silence enables us to face God, ourselves, and reality. It also helps us to face others, creating and nurturing authentic relationships. It is striking that people often talk not for communication but to mask their true selves or what lies deep within. We talk much because we are nervous. The American theologian Richard Foster wisely pointed out that we often talk to defend ourselves. [1a] And when we are silent, we feel vulnerable and fear being misunderstood and maligned. It takes guts to be silent.

PHOTO: Silence enables us to face God, ourselves, and reality. It also helps us to face others, creating and nurturing authentic relationships. It is striking that people often talk not for communication but to mask their true selves or what lies deep within. We talk much because we are nervous. The American theologian Richard Foster wisely pointed out that we often talk to defend ourselves. [1a] And when we are silent, we feel vulnerable and fear being misunderstood and maligned. It takes guts to be silent.
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Jesus is our great example. Though He spoke at considerable length, frequently preaching and teaching, He also practised silence, both during His regular times of prayer and on other occasions. When a crowd of accusers who were themselves sinful brought Him a woman caught in sin, His prophetic silence penetrated the depths of their guilty hearts (John 8:1-11). When He was himself unjustly accused at the trial before His crucifixion, He remained silent (Isaiah 53:7; Mark 14:61). Jesus' silence showed His deep trust in the Father.

PHOTO: Jesus is our great example. Though He spoke at considerable length, frequently preaching and teaching, He also practised silence, both during His regular times of prayer and on other occasions. When a crowd of accusers who were themselves sinful brought Him a woman caught in sin, His prophetic silence penetrated the depths of their guilty hearts (John 8:1-11). When He was himself unjustly accused at the trial before His crucifixion, He remained silent (Isaiah 53:7; Mark 14:61). Jesus' silence showed His deep trust in the Father.
Picture posted by PepLamb on 11 January 2024
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Does this mean that we are to be silent all the time, as much as possible? It is clear that that is not to be so. At His trial, Christ did speak up too (John 18:19-37). Nevertheless, what He spoke had power and meaning because of the moments when He kept silent. For Christ, silence and speech nurtured each other.

One of Christ's followers, Mary of Bethany, displayed this characteristic of her Lord. When He visited her home, she sat at His feet, listening in silence to all that He said. Her sister Martha was too distracted by her tasks to enjoy the redeeming silence and refreshing stillness that would bring new and abundant life (Luke 10:38-42). When their brother Lazarus died, Martha met Jesus with a flood of words, while Mary said little. What Mary said, however, was bathed in a silence that moved Christ deeply (John 11:20-35).

PHOTO: One of Christ's followers, Mary of Bethany, displayed this characteristic of her Lord. When He visited her home, she sat at His feet, listening in silence to all that He said. Her sister Martha was too distracted by her tasks to enjoy the redeeming silence and refreshing stillness that would bring new and abundant life (Luke 10:38-42). When their brother Lazarus died, Martha met Jesus with a flood of words, while Mary said little. What Mary said, however, was bathed in a silence that moved Christ deeply (John 11:20-35).
Picture posted by The Church Of Jesus Christ - Mary and Martha
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Our spiritual lives must be nourished by moments of silence - not accidental brushes with silence but the disciplined practice of silence. We live in a noisy world. We must make our hearts, homes, and churches into places where silence is appreciated, nurtured, and experienced. Even our joyful praises must contain room for silence. Now that the psalms (the ancient hymns of Israel) are punctuated by the term selah, a reminder for the people to reflect in silence even in the midst of their joyful singing (e.g. Psalm 66, 67). It is no surprise, therefore, that the prophet Habakkuk wrote: "The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him" (Habakkuk 2:20). Perhaps he knew that often, when the mouth shuts, the heart opens.

PHOTO: Our spiritual lives must be nourished by moments of silence - not accidental brushes with silence but the disciplined practice of silence. We live in a noisy world. We must make our hearts, homes, and churches into places where silence is appreciated, nurtured, and experienced. Even our joyful praises must contain room for silence. Now that the psalms (the ancient hymns of Israel) are punctuated by the term selah, a reminder for the people to reflect in silence even in the midst of their joyful singing (e.g. Psalm 66, 67). It is no surprise, therefore, that the prophet Habakkuk wrote: "The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him" (Habakkuk 2:20). Perhaps he knew that often, when the mouth shuts, the heart opens.
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PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that our spiritual lives be nourished by moments of silence - not accidental brushes with silence but the disciplined practice of silence.

May we make our hearts, homes, and churches into places where silence is appreciated, nurtured, and experienced. And even our joyful praises contain room for silence. May we reflect in silence even in the midst of our joyful singing.

Help us to have silence and speech that nurtured each other. May we at times have the guts to be silent to show our deep trust in You.

May awe floods our souls, rendering us lost for words, when we are deeply touched, having witnessed an act of love or kindness..May we experience the supremely beautiful in silence.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
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Reflection - Nurturing The Inner Life - A Time To Be Silent
Source (book): "Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, Chapter 27, "A Time To Be Silent", Page 144.
By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012

Other Books (Links)

"Faithful to the end", A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Faithful to the end (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html

"Finding rest for the soul" Responding to Jesus' Invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/10/reflection-finding-rest-for-soul-links.html

"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html

"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html

"Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, © 2018 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-songs-of-christmas-links.html

"Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, © 2019 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part.html

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part IV - V (Links), posted on Thursday, 22 April 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part_9.html

"Teach Us to Number Our Days", © 2008 by David Roper

Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 1 - 40 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 November 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/11/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-1-40.html

Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 41 - 64 (Links), posted on Wednesday, 16 March 2022
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/03/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-41.html

"He Walks with Me - Devotions for Your Caregiving Journey with God", © 2018 by Our Daily Bread Ministries, Shelly Beach

Reflection - He Walks with Me (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 August 2022
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/08/reflection-he-walks-with-me-links.html

"Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries

Reflection - Classic Gem, Chapter 1 - 45 (Links), posted on 03 April 2023
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2023/04/reflection-classic-gem-chapter-1-45.html

"Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries

Reflection - Classic Gem, Chapter 46 - 90 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 24 October 2023
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2023/10/reflection-classic-gem-chapter-46-90.html

Reference

[1] From "Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, Copyright @ 2022 by Robert M. Solomon, Chapter 27, "A Time To Be Silent", Page 144.

[1a] Richard Foster, Freedom of simplicity (London: Triangle/SPCK, 1981), 57-58.

Links

Other Books (Links) - https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/10/reflection-books-links.html

1 Kings 19:12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+19%3A12&version=NIV

Ecclesiastes 3:7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+3%3A7&version=NIV

Habakkuk 2:20 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Habakkuk+2%3A20&version=NIV

Isaiah 53:7; Mark 14:61 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+53%3A7%3B+Mark+14%3A61&version=NIV

John 8:1-11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8%3A1-11&version=NIV

John 11:20-35 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+11%3A20-35&version=NIV

John 18:19-37 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+18%3A19-37&version=NIV

Luke 10:38-42 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10%3A38-42&version=NIV

Matthew 11:28-29 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+11%3A28-29&version=NIV

Psalm 66, 67 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+66%2C+67&version=NIV

Psalm 83:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+83%3A1&version=NIV