“Sometimes when we first begin to introduce silence into our lives, . . instead of feeling energized and connected with God, we feel heavy and tired, depressed even. Again, this is normal. It’s part of our detox from a culture of hurry. . . . Rest is not indulgence, it’s provision.”- Summer Joy Gross
“It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don’t you know [God] enjoys giving rest to those He loves?”- Psalm 127:2 (MSG)
Summer Joy Gross concludes Chapter 17 of The Emmanuel Promise as she talks about the classic spiritual invitation of silence and solitude. Because, in the desert, no other voices intervene or reign. Therefore, as we move into quiet, all in life that has its grasp on us comes into view.
Consequently, Ignatius referred to all that fails to let God’s life flow into us or fails to lead to a deepening of God’s life within us as disordered attachment. Above all, naming those disordered attachments requires substantial discernment. In other words, this requires desert time.
Furthermore, Summer sees the desert as a place of internal conversion. A place where we contend with all that conflicts with the voice of our Emmanuel. Thus, silence serves as a means to convert us to a life of communion. Writing in The Way of the Heart, Henri Nouwen reminds us:
“Solitude is not a private therapeutic place. Rather, it is a place of conversion, the place where the old self dies and the new self is born. We choose the desert to begin attending to one voice, learning to be His child.”
In conclusion, Summer encourages, grace yourself with gentleness as you step into silence. Because solitude and silence often expose the ragged state of your heart. However, Summer counsels, we need not worry. This represents the healing gift behind silence.
Grounded in God’s compassion, we recognize that the Good Shepherd invites our needy and wounded true self to come into His presence. The Great Physician tends to and bandages our wounds.
Today’s question: What most helps you detox from our culture of hurry? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Holy imagination – meet God”
