Finding ourselves in silence

By Judy Joseph McSween,

Time Out Specialist – Emotional Intelligence, Conversational Intelligence and Spiritual Intelligence Coach

Let’s PAUSE and become fully present to this moment.  Become aware of your breathing … gently close your eyes … take a deep BREATH in through your nostrils and out through your mouth.  Repeat three times.  Be aware of the sensation in your body as you engage in this breathing process.  As you end the cycle, gently open your eyes. Have your Bible within reach.

One of the scariest and longest journeys that we ever take, is that of getting to know self. I am referring not to our external features, but rather our internal landscape, the journey within.

The journey within takes us to a place of self-awareness and self-knowledge, where we discover our emotions. You know the ones that when persons ask: ‘how are you feeling?’, your response is ‘normal’ or ‘no how’ or ‘I’m not feeling anything’ or ‘I’m fine, thanks’—all while our physical body is sending contrary signals.

The journey within takes us to a place where we connect with self, others and Holy Spirit, with a deeper level of knowing and being (read: John 16:7–11).

The journey within begins in silence. Be aware of whether you tend to avoid silence and by extension stillness.

Is there always background noise in your space—talking, music, prayers? Are you always on the move—exercising, errands, tasks, fidgeting?

Are these tactics used to avoid:

(i)     thoughts that cause us pain and anxiety, memories that we would rather forget?

(ii)    discomfort with the reality of the biases that we demonstrate in our interactions?

(iii)    hearing God’s voice, His direct guidance for you, as He gave to Elijah, (1 Kings 19:11–18); and to Moses (Exodus 19:1–34:30).

Scripture reveals that Jesus drew away from the crowds, spending time alone with God and resurfacing filled with the Holy Spirit. Read Luke 6:12–13 (before making major decisions); Matthew 14:22–23 (after miraculous work); Mark 6:30–32 (after intense ministry).

The journey within requires that in silence, we introspect, seeking answers to questions that we would not usually consider, or even dare to explore. We develop comfort or accept the discomfort of a silence in which nothing appears to be happening. Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

On this synodal journey, periods of silence become imperative for discernment of the voice of the Holy Spirit. We begin to distinguish between thoughts and actions driven by ego versus higher self (aligned with God).

“Without silence, we do not really experience our experiences. We are here, but not in the depths of here. We have many experiences, but they do not have the power to change us, awaken us, or give us the joy and peace that the world cannot give, as Jesus says (John 14:27). Without some degree of inner and even outer silence, we are never living, never tasting the moment.”–Richard Rohr

As we seek to “widen our tents”, we need increased spiritual maturity, non-dual consciousness. Richard Rohr notes we become more open and willing to “teach things like compassion, mercy, forgiveness, selflessness, even love of enemies. Any good contemplative practice quickly greases the wheels of the mind toward non-dual consciousness.”

What would you do differently, if you truly believed that the way to fully know self and God was through silence?

“Silence is not just the absence of noise. It’s a vital space that brings our inner life to light, connecting us to something greater,” –Richard Rohr.

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Feel free to contact Judy Joseph McSween to schedule a personal or a group Time Out session judy@timeoutspecialist.com or call: (1-868) 684-9827.

Visit www.timeoutspecialist.com

Reflection

Journeying within surfaces our Spiritual Intelligence, authentically answering questions such as:

• What is my worldview? Am I aware of life through the eyes of another culture or religion?
• What is my life purpose? Do my daily behaviours and decisions align with my Purpose?
• What is my hierarchy of values? Are my values aligned with Higher Self? Do they reflect compassion for all living things?
• What is my awareness of complexity of thought? How do I manage uncertainty?
• Am I able to distinguish between my Ego Self and my Higher Self? What would love do?

Cindy Wigglesworth SQ21, Twenty-One Spiritual Intelligence Competencies.