{"id":984,"date":"2019-09-11T20:26:30","date_gmt":"2019-09-12T01:26:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/ordinarymystic\/?p=984"},"modified":"2019-09-11T20:26:30","modified_gmt":"2019-09-12T01:26:30","slug":"silence-is-not-empty-it-is-filled-with-god-guest-post-by-rich-lewis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/ordinarymystic\/2019\/09\/silence-is-not-empty-it-is-filled-with-god-guest-post-by-rich-lewis\/","title":{"rendered":"Silence is Not Empty, It is Filled With God (Guest Post by Rich Lewis)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

I cannot imagine a better start to each day than a silent sit.<\/p>\n

When I practice centering prayer, I respond to God\u2019s question, \u201cWill you sit with me (Matthew 11:28)?\u201d When we center like Jesus, we say, \u201cNot what I want, but what you want\u201d (Mark 14:35). I sit in silence to be loved and healed by God. Silence creates a space for us to heal. The space created by silence and stillness helps us find our equilibrium, our center of gravity.<\/p>\n

I sit in silence because it is a safe place to let go of my anger and guilt for this anger. I sit in silence to let go of jealousy, which is an obstacle to the release of my God-given potential. I sit in silence to let the Creator create through me, to let go and trust God. I sit in silence because I love God. I sit in silence to enter a journey that God and I travel together. Silence teaches me how to live.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Silence is not often thought of as a teacher. Most often our society refers to silence as \u201cdead time.\u201d What, if anything, can be special about silence? This is where a transformation has taken place in my life. I have come to see how precious silence is \u2013 how silence is God\u2019s first language. Gregory (540 to 604) and a number of monks and mystics since have stated that \u201cSilence is God\u2019s first language and everything else is a poor translation.\u201d This premise is the basis of my website, http:\/\/www.SilenceTeaches.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Words do not always need to be said. In contemplative prayer we float in the ocean of God. You can\u2019t sink because God will hold you. Thomas Keating writes, \u201cContemplative Prayer is the world in which God can do anything.\u201d Our job is to enter and see what happens.<\/p>\n

The heart of Centering Prayer is \u201cconsent\u201d \u2013 consent to the presence and action of God in our lives. That is it! We do not need to make it complicated. Like myriads of contemplatives before us, we open to the presence of God in silence. We let God do the work. When we center we let God take action within (Luke 17:21). If we open to God, God will become present and when ready, God will act within. And, we will take this action into our non-centering times of the day.<\/p>\n

We cannot define God (Exodus 20:4)! We can only open to God. In a radio interview Amos Smith mentioned that he has chosen his well and will dig (as opposed to digging in several wells\/traditions). I feel the same way. I have chosen my well. It is centering prayer and I will dig. Silent prayer is not escape from this world but rather prepares me to engage and fully live in this world. The deep well of centering prayer provides a foundation, which gives me the stability and solidity to carry out my life mission.<\/p>\n

About:<\/strong>\u00a0Centering prayer has changed Rich Lewis\u2019s life. Rich runs the website\u00a0Silence Teaches Us Who We Are<\/a>, is working on a book entitled Centering Prayer and Mindfulness: A Path to Abundant Life, teaches contemplative prayer in college\/university settings, and offers one-on-one Centering Prayer coaching.<\/p>\n

Photo by\u00a0Amy Velazquez<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Unsplash<\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I cannot imagine a better start to each day than a silent sit. When I practice centering prayer, I respond to God\u2019s question, \u201cWill you sit with me (Matthew 11:28)?\u201d When we center like Jesus, we say, \u201cNot what I want, but what you want\u201d (Mark 14:35). I sit in silence to be loved and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4030,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-984","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-contemplation"],"yoast_head":"\nSilence is Not Empty, It is Filled With God (Guest Post by Rich Lewis)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I cannot imagine a better start to each day than a silent sit. 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