The best kind.

 Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing, only a signal shown, and a distant voice in the darkness. So on the ocean of life, we pass and speak one another, only a look and a voice, then darkness again and a silence. –Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

We are owned by two cats, Howard and Tucker. I have had cats (or they have had me) my whole life—but these two are different. Not just because they are boy cats, and I have always had girl cats.

No, Howard and Tucker are different because they are so very, very . . . quiet.

If they are talking, it’s because they truly have something to say. If Tucker is thirsty, he jumps up in the bathroom sink and tells me. Mom? Mom! That’s exactly what it sounds like. If Howard wants to play, he gives me this teeny, tiny, high-pitched meh that says it all. Men of few words, each word loaded with meaning.

Frankly, I am not used to that. In cats or in humans. It is a special relationship that has little need for words or sounds to fill the silence. Even during prayer time, many days we cannot stand the silence it takes to listen to God, and instead fill the space with words.

Words that God always accepts—even when God wishes God could get a word in edgewise.

Guess what your task is this week? Shhhhh. . . . It’s God’s turn.


Monday Memorial Day Pause today in silence and give thanks for those who answered the call to serve and defend our country, no matter how you may feel about war in general. 1 Samuel 2:1-5

Tuesday As beautiful weather moves in, spend time outdoors today, or near a window. Listen without speaking. What do you hear? Psalm 113:1-4

Wednesday Treat yourself today. Whatever you do, give thanks and savor every moment! Psalm 113:5-9

Thursday Schools are winding down for the summer. Are there children in your life? Listen with your whole heart when they talk. What might you learn? Romans 12:9-12

Friday How do you feel sitting in the dark? Try this tonight. What do you hear in your soul? Romans 12:10-16

Saturday Praying for yourself can be even more challenging without words. Today, try a walking prayer. Move your feet as you spend time with God. Luke 1:39-45

Sunday Music soothes the savage beast. Today, listen to some favorite music, with or without words. Let your tired soul heal. Luke 1:46-55

 

Music is the silence between the notes. --Claude Debussy

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Stepping back. . . .

Image
Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and with a calm spirit.  Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever,  even if your whole world seems upset.  –St. Francis de Sales This week, I invite you to simply sit in a quiet space with words of hope and promise, and to remember, as Julian of Norwich knew, that all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well . It has been a long, difficult season. Advent and the coming of the Christ is just around the corner. Peace and comfort to your spirit. Monday   “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.” Matthew 11:28-30 Tuesday  “Is this not the kind of fast I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” Isaiah 58:6-9 Wednesday  “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the
Read more

It's that time again. . . .

When the seasons shift, even the subtle beginning, the scent of a promised changed, I feel something stir inside me. Hopefulness? Gratitude? Openness?  Whatever it is,  it’s welcome. –Kristin Armstrong No matter what part of the world you call home, this time of year brings big changes. While my friends Down Under are watching sings of new growth emerge from the earth as temperatures rise, here in Ohio, the leaves are turning from green to gold and orange, red and brown. The winds have taken on a chill; clouds hang heavy, like soggy cotton, reminding us that soon and very soon, we are going to see the snow . Always different, yet somehow, the same. We depend on God’s eternal ways, and trust that again this year, winter will follow autumn, just like it should. So why is it, as we anticipate and appreciate changes like these, when it comes to so many things in life we pull up short, wrinkle our noses and say No! No change! I like things just the way they are! It’s t
Read more

Starting again

“This, then, is how you should pray:" --Matthew 6:9a I have been really sensing lately that there is another blog inside me, one focused on prayer.  Oh, I know-- those elephants are all about prayer. Heck, they  are  prayer. And I will continue there, as well. But what I've been feeling is that people-- maybe you--  have always been told, "You should pray," or "Pray about that." But maybe you feel your prayers aren't "good enough," or that it's just too hard, too embarrassing, too [fill in the blank] to pray. Maybe it feels like no one really talks about how  to pray-- except, of course, for Jesus, in Matthew 6 and a couple parallel passages where we are given what's come to be known as The Lord's Prayer. And it is a great prayer. And there are other great prayers, and other ways to pray that do not involve rote. So "my plan" here is to share, hopefully on a weekly or semi-regular basis, a lot of
Read more