Silence

Tony Jones quotes Richard Foster on p. 40 of THE SACRED WAY:

Without silence there is no solitude. Though silence sometimes involves the absence of speech, it always involves the act of listening. Simply to refrain from talking, without a heart listening to God, is not silence.

Then Jones says, "Ultimately, we keep silence and solitude so we can listen better - so we can hear what God is saying to us and to our world."

It's funny, but I sit in silence almost every day - for most of the day. Yet I'm not sure how much of it is really 'silence.' 'Cause I don't know that I ever really thought about the "listening" aspect of it. I often sit in silence trying to "think". And I don't know that thinking is the same thing as listening to God. The times that I do actually try to listen to God - like when I pray that He will help me with a talk or something - it's amazing how He really does come through. And yet...

CHANGE SUBJECT
Got a call this morning from a young girl who attends my church. Maybe 24 - she is in Oklahoma to do her mother's funeral. Not just to attend it... but to actually do the memorial service! I feel so bad. She called Saturday requesting prayer because her sisters, aunts & uncles are all fighting. Half won't attend the funeral. And they don't want to use a minister that didn't know her mom. So Krystle asked what I usually do at funerals. I gave her some Scriptures I usually use; told her how I kinda do things. Wow. I can't imagine being 24, single mother of 2, drove all night to Ok., and having to deal with all that. God, bless her.

'Nother Change
Finally bought a digital camera this weekend. Just a cheapy Kodak. Very cool. But I tried and tried to get my picture on my profile - AND I CAN'T DO IT! I hate it when that happens. I hate it worse that stupid stuff like that makes me mad. :)

Jones quoted a child on p. 44: "Silence reminds me to take my soul with me wherever I go." Yeah... I need to do that. Today.

Later. Peace & revolution.