To Inspire:

The season of Lent has begun for Christians all over the world. Lent is a time in which we reflect on our own mortality and our need for God. We acknowledge our brokenness and sinfulness and ask for God’s mercy and forgiveness. To grow in our relationship with the Lord we take on various types of fasting, almsgiving and prayer – all designed to draw us closer to God, and others.

Our fasting isn’t just from food but also from the many distractions that fill our time – television, internet scrolling, useless gossip, etc. I’m reading a book by Cardinal Robert Sarah entitled The Power of Silence Against the Dictatorship of Noise and I’m feeling led to take some time each day to fast from noise and spend it in silence. I encourage all of us to try it, whether or not we take on Lenten practices. Find a special place and begin with just 5 minutes of silence, gradually working up to 30 minutes. Settle yourself, close your eyes and begin to breathe slowly. Fill your mind with thoughts of God’s love for you; the many blessings you have in your life; etc. Or perhaps meditate on a favorite scripture passage.

My strong sense is that taking on this practice will benefit all of us in many ways. We’ll be more peace-filled the rest of the day – more compassionate and less anxious. For people of faith, we’ll find ourselves thinking of God more, speaking with Him more, and deepening our relationship with Him. For all of us, we’ll find that this time of silence gives greater purpose and clarity to our lives.

Below are some quotes from Cardinal Sarah’s book. Enjoy them and reflect deeply on the role that silence can play in helping you live a life of beauty and peace – a life of greatness.

Sounds and emotions detach us from ourselves, whereas silence always forces man to reflect upon his own life.

The greatest things are accomplished in silence—not in the clamor and display of superficial eventfulness, but in the deep clarity of inner vision; in the almost imperceptible start of decision, in quiet overcoming and hidden sacrifice.

Silence is man’s greatest freedom.

How right Pascal was when he wrote in his Pensées: “All the unhappiness of men arises from one single fact, that they cannot stay quietly in their own chamber.

There is no place on earth where God is more present than in the human heart. The heart is God’s abode, the temple of silence.

Through silence, we return to our heavenly origin, where there is nothing but calm, peace, repose, silent contemplation, and adoration of the radiant face of God.

Written by Matt  Palmer, Partner & Co-Founder