I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20
“Silence means rest, rest of body and mind in which we become available for Him whose heart is greater than ours. That is very threatening; it is like giving up control over our actions and thoughts, allowing something creative to happen not by us but to us. Is it so amazing that we are so often tired and exhausted, trying to be masters of ourselves, wanting to grasp the ultimate meaning of our existence, struggling with our identity?
Silence is that moment in which we not only stop the discussion with others but also the inner discussions with ourselves, in which we can breathe in freely and accept our identity as a gift. “Not I live, but He lives in me.” It is in this silence that the Spirit of God can pray in us and continue creative work in us… Without silence…the creative energy of our life will float away and leave us alone, cold, and tired. Without silence we will lose our center and become the victim of the many who constantly demand our attention.”
Henri Nouwen in You Are the Beloved: Daily Meditations for Spiritual Living (New York: Convergent, 2017) 136.
Part of taking a break is sitting in silence, making sure you are centered, and remembering where any creative energy comes from. It’s not rooted in what we do but who we are in Christ. From there, our lives can become generous and abundant gifts.
I am just starting to feel rested, both physically and emotionally. I’ve been asking God in silence to fill me with compassion and wisdom for service, and He reminds me that I must seek only His will and life and everything else I need will be there in abundance.