Seekers of silence

Subiaco’s monks, others look for periods of quiet contemplation, listening for the voice of God

In his book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Donald Whitney writes: "Many of us need to realize the 'addiction' we have to noise."

In that daily barrage of noise -- of cellphones and chatter, traffic and TVs -- periods of true silence can be disconcerting. But seeking periods of silence, as well as solitude, are spiritual disciplines that many embrace, not just to shut out the noise, but to connect with God.

The monks of Subiaco Abbey in Logan County are accustomed to silence. While they don't take a vow of silence, as some religious brothers do, silence is a part of daily life. The monks follow the Rule of St. Benedict, written by the fourth-century saint known as the father of Western monasticism. Benedict believed silence was an important part of monastic life and essential in listening to God.

Abbot Jerome Kodell said the monks of the abbey have times of silence built into the daily schedule, and several take advantage of the early morning hours to pray silently in the church. They also seek silence while walking the grounds or late in the evening when they are alone in their rooms.

Silence isn't only for monks, he said.

"Silence is certainly important in the life of a monk, but it's important in the life of everyone, first of all to be able to hear the voice of God in our lives, but even to listen to our own inner voice," Kodell said. "Constant noise keeps us rattled and distorts our listening."

Kodell said silence "allows us to get in touch with who we really are," adding that "we need to stand still in silence before the Lord and listen."

The Rev. Paul McLain, canon and sub-dean at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Little Rock, said Jesus often sought out times of silence and solitude. Examples can be found throughout the Gospels of him stealing away at night or in the early morning hours to be alone.

Matthew 14:23 states, "And after he had sent the multitudes away, he went up to the mountain by himself to pray; and when it was evening, he was there alone."

Time and again he sought solitude.

"One of the first things he did after being baptized by John was to go into the desert for 40 days, which you could say was a silent retreat," McLain said.

McLain said he also went on a silent retreat -- three days, not 40 -- after he was ordained.

"It was helpful to do that," he said.

McLain said more and more parishioners are asking how they can incorporate silence in their lives.

"In everyone's life today, we all have our devices and we're available instantaneously to people," he said. "Silence is becoming less a part of our lives and I think many people want more."

Worship services at the cathedral sometimes include periods of silence, but more silence would be a good thing, McLain said. This fall, the church plans to alter the worship schedule and add a service that will be more contemplative in nature.

"The most under-used rubric in the Book of Common Prayer is 'Silence may be kept here,'" McLain said. "We probably overlook that too much and there are many places we can naturally bring in silence."

Of course, not everyone is comfortable with silence.

"I've talked to people and as extroverts it does bother them and can make them feel uncomfortable, but I think there is still a craving. There's something re-energizing about silence that brings us into a deeper focus with God," he said.

McLain said silence can sometimes be seen as unproductive time, but he finds silence essential, so much so that he goes on a yearly silent retreat.

The first one was a challenge, he said, but after the first day it became easier.

"It's amazing how soothing it is," he said. "Doing it in a monastic community, where everyone is in silence, you begin to appreciate people not for what they say but for who they are. It's truly more of a Christ-like love."

Robb Ryerse, pastor of Vintage Fellowship in Fayetteville, has a full-time job in addition to leading his congregation.

The spiritual disciplines of silence and solitude have become very meaningful to him.

"My days are superhectic and superbusy, just like everybody else. That's the world we live in. So for me being able to build some times of quiet and rest into my day, into my week, is just really important," Ryerse said.

Ryerse said sometimes that silence and solitude come by taking time to sit on the back porch with a glass of wine and a cigar -- and leaving his phone inside. Other times he takes a social media fast by staying off Facebook and Twitter for a few days.

"Sometimes when people think of silence and solitude they have this mental image of a monk in a cave somewhere spending years all by himself. For me, it's more about capturing 10 minutes, half an hour or an hour here or there and allowing it to be time to recharge my batteries," he said. "I'm a person who gets recharged by that kind of time. Being alone and quiet is really important for me."

Silence is part of worship periodically at Vintage Fellowship, and one of the congregation's small groups spent six weeks exploring silence.

"We met once a week and would debrief a little and spend 20 minutes or so in silence together," Ryerse said. "It was essentially exercising that muscle and adding that discipline."

At the end of the six-week period, the group took a four-hour silent retreat.

"It was really a great experience to incorporate that spiritual discipline into our lives together, to have the support and encouragement and to know no matter how busy the week was getting, on Thursday I'd be able to sit quietly with some people doing the same things," he said.

Silence is something the church takes seriously, but doesn't do enough, he said.

"We get so busy we forget how important it is and how good it feels."

Ryerse said silence can allow individuals to hear that "still, small voice" of God.

"He often does not come into our lives like a bull in a china shop," he said. "I think of Jesus arriving in the world as a little baby. There's a vulnerability there. It's that way with silence and solitude. It opens us up to actually hear God, to be receptive to the way God enters into the world. God comes to us humbly and vulnerable and can be misunderstood or shouted down and ignored because of all the other noise and busyness."

"Sometimes we have to be quiet ourselves. We have to stop talking."

Gayle Fiser, minister of congregational care at Trinity United Methodist Church in Little Rock, said the congregation has been experimenting with silence since Lent. Fiser said she has been practicing silence, as well as centering prayer, for some time and has come to appreciate the quiet.

"Personally, I do a lot of talking to God, but I don't do a lot of listening to God," she said. "I'm trying to practice it, that when I sit down this is my time to listen to God and just receive. It's surprising how quickly 20 minutes goes by and how refreshed you feel."

Fiser said she feels calmer now that she has incorporated silence into her life.

"When things come calling that are storms, they are not as severe and threatening and I feel more at peace," she said. "I feel I'm more centered and that God is in control and things are OK."

McLain said, as with anything, practice helps make silence easier to handle.

"As a spiritual discipline, it's a practice you cultivate," he said. "The more you do it, the more centered you feel. Part of it, too, is dealing with distractions. They are going to come into your mind. Let them come in and flow out."

McLain said he uses a sacred word, "Jesus," to help when his thoughts stray and to focus on breathing.

"Rather than your prayer having a goal of intercession for someone else or yourself, it's more spending quiet time with God, opening yourself to more of a total devotion and focus on God without an agenda," he said.

Kodell suggests shutting out some of the noise of the day by turning off the constant hum of the TV or radio or turning off the phone and going for a walk or ride in the country.

"There are many expensive ways to escape from the noise and frantic pace of our lives," he said, "but one of the best is free and not very far away: silence."

Religion on 06/21/2014

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