Today I started reading “The Reed of God” by Caryll Houselander. It was recommended by the Hallow Advent Challenge and was quoted in today’s reflection. Continuing with the theme of being still, the book touched on the problem of silence. It is in silence where we can find peace and even more importantly, it is where we find God. These few sentences struck me:

“Strangely enough, those who complain the loudest of the emptiness of their lives are usually people whose lives are overcrowded, filled with trivial details, plans, desires, ambitions, unsatisfied cravings for passing pleasures, doubts, anxieties, and fears; and these sometimes further overlaid with exhausting pleasures which are an attempt, and always a futile attempt, to forget how pointless such people’s lives are. Those who complain in these circumstances of the emptiness of their lives are usually afraid to allow space or silence or pause in their lives.”

This was written near 80 years ago. Now it is even harder to find silence. We are constantly bombarded with notifications, information, alerts, news, videos. It is easy to become addicted to our electronics and to fill up every empty space with stimulation. I have to make a conscious decision not to just scroll through my phone. The good news is that we do have control over such things and we can change our behavior. The final sentence in the first chapter of the book says:

“Whatever we are gives form to the emptiness in us which can only be filled by God and which God is even now waiting to fill.”

The reflection on Hallow ended in some silent time, which I embraced. As I listened to my inhales and exhales, I thanked God for breathing His life into me. I felt peace.

I Found God today in silence.

Here is another photo from Our Lady of Champion Shrine in Champion, WI.