In the Silence

This week we went to a place called Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp here in Montana.  It is an incredibly beautiful retreat center set on the shores of a gorgeous lake, framed by immense snow-capped mountains.  Such places prompt a movement within us as we say things like, “awesome” or “isn’t this beautiful?”  We search for words to form a prayer of appreciation.  But often we don’t find our words to be adequate.  

In the summer this place is filled with the sounds and movement of hundreds of campers and staff, making it a joyful and active place to nurture young people in the faith AND experience lots of fun – accompanied by the sounds of clapping, talking, singing, laughing, squealing, and prayer – even loud praying, and maybe even crying. 

But this week was different for our small group who gathered for an “Adult Spirituality Retreat”.  We had the place to ourselves and we were there, at least in part, to set aside some time from the loud sounds and demands of the world – at least for a couple of days.

So in the first session on Monday morning a dozen of us sat in silence for twenty minutes. That doesn’t sound like much, does it?  But, have you tried twenty minutes of intentional silence in a group lately?  In a normal setting, say a worship service, just a few minutes of silence makes many people uncomfortable. 

This was a prayer method called “centering prayer” in which one is prompted to pray without words, trying to brush away the distractions of the “to do” lists or other concerns circulating in our minds. 

Praying without words?  That sounds counter-intuitive to conventional approach to prayer – for we usually pray with words directed to the divine presence asking for help, intervention, direction, or giving thanks.  We do all the talking and not much listening.

During those hours we experienced silence together as well as quiet meditation on solitary walks – (several walked the Labyrinth).  After the time in centering prayer I asked the group members to comment on and talk about the experience of silence. Some talked, but at least two participants later said the experience was such a deep and personal time with God, they had no words – in fact they didn’t want to talk then.

We had among us some who are “experienced prayers” and others who are shy about praying out loud.  One session was a meditation on Romans 8:26-28 where we read that “we don’t know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words”.  Intuitively we know this to be true.

Later our friend Janis Hansen, who attended the retreat sent this poem:

PRAYING

 It doesn't have to be

the blue iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few
small stones;

just pay attention, then patch
a few words together and don’t try
to make them elaborate, this isn't
a contest but the doorway
into thanks, and a silence in which
another voice may speak.

 ~ Mary Oliver, from her collection: "Thirst," (Beacon Press, 2006)