Practicing Silence & Solitude

Despite the number of noise cancelling devices on the market, it seems almost impossible to find a moment of true silence and solitude in our day. We are inundated with noise – from our devices, the world outside, and the people we are surrounded by.

This mass consumption of noise does more than just annoy us though – it perpetuates the narrative of escalation. If we could just have the last word, share one more experience, or check off another item from the to-do list, then we’d be satisfied. But this escalation creates a cycle of distraction that preoccupies us with worry, productivity, and fear, keeping us from truly living the full and abundant life that is possible.

But how do we stop the cycle and quiet the distractions so that we can be present to what God created us for? By practicing silence and solitude, we can reject the narrative of escalation and begin to rest in the adequacy of here and now.

This week, we challenge you to engage in silence and solitude with some of the practices blow:

Minimize distractions – We often mindlessly fill our lives with unnecessary noise that distracts us from the reality of God with us. Consider turning off the background noise and minimizing the distractions while engaging in your ordinary, everyday tasks. When you’re cooking dinner, driving in your car, or doing the dishes, turn off the radio or television, put down the phone, and offer the task and the time it takes to complete it to God. Thank God for the chance to live in this moment, knowing that it is more than enough.

Questions for reflection:

• In what ways do you avoid or resist silence?
• What other distractions could you silence in order to be more present to God throughout your day?

Journaling – These practices can be difficult to build into our daily rhythms for the simple fact that we often don’t know what to do when we’re alone with silence! Consider easing into the practice by taking some silent time alone to record your thoughts and reactions in a journal. In our culture, it can be easy to get caught up in consuming experiences without ever reflecting on how we are being shaped and formed by what is happening around and within us. Journaling provides an opportunity to stop and be present to yourself and God, to let go of the noise of the day and consider your feelings, frustrations, desires, and purpose. You don’t have to write a novel – start small, perhaps by daily answering the question, “where did I notice God today?” You don’t have to limit yourself to words either! Consider clipping photos, newspaper articles, and images from magazines to help you express yourself.

Questions for reflection:

• Do you regularly take time to reflect on your experiences?
• What other mediums might you use to help you focus, process, and reflect in silence and solitude?

Contemplation – The practice of contemplation is rooted in silence and solitude. There are many ways to practice contemplation, but at its core, contemplation invites us to simply be – wherever we are, with whatever we’re doing. It emphasizes that we are more than what we can accomplish, that we are more than what we can contribute to the world, and that we are more than the sum of our experiences. Try practicing contemplation by releasing your burdens to God. Take a few moments to sit in silence and solitude, considering the emotions and thoughts that arise in the quiet – set a timer for 5 minutes or so if this is difficult for you. Once you have identified tension within yourself, release it to God, recognizing that you were created for more than just bearing the weight of your problems and concerns.

Questions for reflection:

• What sort of desires, cares, and worries arise in you while sitting in silence and solitude?
• What is it like for you to relinquish these to God?

Follow along with a guided meditation for contemplation here!