By Sara Kohl

 

Turn to me and be safe,
all you ends of the earth,
for I am God; there is no other!
~ Is 45:22

“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” 

As I sit to write, I notice my desire for silence. I can hear hums of the cars outside, a train whistle, and another apartment dweller’s voice on a video call. I do not want to avoid this noise, however. If I did, I would simply put in headphones or play my favorite music.

No, the silene I am desiring is inside me: silence from my fears for my family, silence from the guilt of a messy living room, silence from my lethargic, tired spirit. 

This silence has a quick “fix:” scrolling through the news, buying something new for my living room, and giving into sloth and gluttony. It feels so familiar to mute my pain instead of bringing it to the Lord. 

Throughout the year, I have experienced and witnessed daily life’s tragedies and joys, and I have continuously brought them to the idols of excess and distraction. It’s as if I keep asking myself, as John’s disciples did, “Should we look for another” (Luke 7:19)?

“Go and tell John what you have seen and heard.”

The Lord does not shame me for this behavior. Instead, he states, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them” (Luke 7:22).

Is it possible? Can I tell the Lord what I have seen and heard? Can I view my daily life in light of the incarnation? If I did, what would change in my ability to sit with Him no matter where my thoughts, emotions, and understanding maybe?

This Advent, I pray that you can join me in again finding joy in silence with the Lord, bringing to him all that we have seen and heard. 

Prayer

Let us pray the words of the Surrender Novena:

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!

Call to Action

Make time today to spend 5 to 15 minutes in silence with the Lord.

 

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