“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence.”
-Saint Mother Teresa
I remember especially during times of holiday madness that I need a silent night. The quiet and peace of my morning meditation. The cold and dark walk with my dog in the early morning hours. The time of creativity and pondering in my empty classroom. God gives me these times and opportunities for quiet, and today I accept these times as a gift.
The world is a loud place. From tv to busy stores to crowded traffic, it is common to experience an overwhelming blast of noise to the senses during this time of year. While it is a joyous time of year, it can also be a time of intense stress and suffering for many. It is a reminder of family, both alive and passed on. It is a reminder of the destruction we caused due to our alcoholism. It is a reminder of what we sacrificed for our disease, and are now so desperately trying to sacrifice to make up for those lost opportunities.
Yes, God is in the quiet—and we need this time with God right now. God will share these experiences with us when we remember to spend time with him. He is the God of joy, the God of intense feelings and sorrow, the God of stress, the God of relaxation and calm. He is our God—our Higher Power.
Today’s Prayer
God, thank you for being with me through all of the experiences and emotions of the holiday season. I commit to spending time in the quiet alone with you each day. Together we can make it through any times of stress, including the holidays.
Getting right with God through isolation and deathly quiet has never worked for me. I go downtown where life's bustling, and find someone to be of service to. That's my journey to God.