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There are many words one could associate with silence—quiet, calm, relaxed, restrained, even humble—but “grand” might not spring to mind as a synonym. In fact, “grand” might be the opposite of silence. Grand is not calm or restrained, but instead expansive, ornate, baroque and expressive. Silence does not seek attention, while grand practically cries for it.
However, by understanding the inherent spirituality of certain actions one begins to see aspects hidden within them. Accordingly, examining silence with spiritual consideration reveals its grandeur. The simplicity of silence is deceptive, because that simplicity allows silence to expand into a variety of spaces and purposes. Silence can be utilized in fields like teaching, business and family matters—where it gives us an enlightening space to listen and encourage communication—as well as a means to foster human wellness—where it gives us a nourishing space to relax and heal. The number of places silence can contribute to our lives is astounding, but we don't always like to utilize silence. Doing so means we don't get to control the conversation, give people a piece of our minds, or change the subject if we get frustrated or bored. But acting like that is no way to learn, to hear, understand or experience something new.
When we are silent, we open a space where we allow that expansion to happen. When we are silent, we make room for healing, reconciliation and progress. That's because silence, especially when it's practiced as a part of our spirituality, is actually active. Silence is an internal, metaphysical space where we learn, grow and prepare. Silence is invisible, but it is not passive; it is alive, a proving ground for unfoldment and self-mastery.
In a way, that apparent contradiction between silence and action is resolved in the story of Lazarus from the Gospel of John. Although those around Jesus thought Lazarus would die, Jesus explained that Lazarus' illness would not lead to death. But his illness appeared to do exactly that; Lazarus died and his body lay in a tomb for four days. However, the silence of the tomb was simply preparatory. Lazarus was resurrected, spiritually reinvigorated, in an action that revealed the glory of God. The silence of the tomb was fittingly broken by the loud voice of Christ, and death was revealed to be nothing more than an illusion. It is the same way silence quietly prepares us for truth, assuming we are willing to still ourselves and listen.
Silence asks little from us—a space of temperance, prudence and awareness—but it rewards us with depths. That is why silence is grand. Anyone who has stepped into a quiet sacred space, whether it's the echoing nave of a massive cathedral or the dark chapel of a humble mission, has had a chance to experience that. In any space where we find spiritual silence, time retreats, the apparent world fades away and we enter the inner sanctum of the self. That's when we realize silence isn't passive or empty, but active and spilling over with divine presence, clarity, understanding, purpose, direction and the truest understanding of ourselves we can imagine.
As we consider how much silence can benefit us compared to how simple it is, we further realize that silence is a blessing. It is a space singular in creation to know ourselves in earnest, to know reality in full and to know our Creator in truth. That knowledge combined drives us forward into eternity, into our highest selves.
Let us pray:
Dear God,
Thank You for the gift of silence.
Thank You for that which comes flooding in
When we quiet ourselves:
Peace and focus;
Insight and wisdom;
Truth and creativity;
Oneness and Divine Presence;
Renewal and higher self.
Thank You for each of those gifts;
Thank You for the grandeur of silence.
Amen.
“Silence is power. In its period we experience harmony, equilibrium, self-mastery and cosmic consciousness. During its hour we become aware of the allness of life, of one God, one spirit, one soul, one reality of being. We are blessed with the light of Universal Mind, the miracle of illumination. During deep and meditative silence, the spiritual elements of our being are quickened and liberated and we are transformed to the All-pervading Self.” - Hanna Jacob Doumette, “The Grandeur of Silence”