“Silence is the home of the word. Silence gives strength and fruitfulness to the word. . . . In the sayings of the Desert Fathers, we can distinguish three aspects of silence. All of them deepen and strengthen the central idea that silence is the mystery of the future world. First, silence makes us pilgrims. Secondly, silence guards the fire within. Thirdly, silence teaches us to speak.” Henri Nouwen
well, you got 51 comments so far on one post about “silence” and I just broke the silence on this one. oops…is that okay?
“… silence teaches us to speak.”
OK, then…
I guess you’re going to have some great things to speak after the silence…
we’ll be waiting…
One of the greatest American choral directors of our generation, James McCoy, of the University of North Texas said, “Silence is the canvas on which musicians paint.”
Great quote.
“Doing nothing is where I reside. Doing nothing strengthens my body and makes my home sparkle with hospitality. My elderly friends from Phoenix say there are 3 types of doing nothing. Its a dry silence. All 3 things show how doing nothing unlocks the unknown of our yet to be world. 1st and 2ndly doing nothing makes us lazy and subsequently guards it. 3rdly doing nothing shows how for us to point a finger.” Leland the nothing Howell
You’ve been hangin around Randy too long.
Silence
S stillness
I inquisitive
L laughing
E evaluate
N nourish
C create
E energize
As I minister in the world of grief many times silence is where I end up. Knowing that the words that I have to offer may pierce an already damaged wounded soul. I pray that I can learn to be silent more.
In presence of God, I find silence. I find my real self and purpose for life. We all need to be still and know that He is God.
“When the door of the steam baths is continually left open, the heat inside rapidly escapes through it; likewise the soul, in its desire to say many things, dissipates its remembrance of God through the door of speech, even though everything it says may be good. Thereafter the intellect, though lacking appropriate ideas, pours out a welter of confused thoughts to anyone it meets, as it no longer has the Holy Spirit to keep its understanding free from fantasy. Ideas of value always shun verbosity, being foreign to confusion and fantasy. Timely silence, then, is precious, for it is nothing less than the mother of the wisest thoughts.” –St. Diadochos of Photiki
though my first day at my new job was NOISY…there was a silence in a way—room to really hear the things of God. Thanks foryour encouragement.
Kirk,
St. Diadochos of Photiki sounds like blind Kung Fu man. I’m just shallow enough not to understand any of it.
I’m with you Leleand.
Leland, sorry about the spelling.
Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.
Proverbs 17:28
What I have found is that when you finally reach silence there is nothing louder.
( )
Thanks for your response Kathy.
Rather ironic, don’t you think, Leland?
Talking about silence and I double post. Oh well, such is life on a board that has no editing feature. 
Really? A whole year of this semi-post silence? Selfishly, I hope this is one New Years Resolution you don’t keep!