Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. – Luke 9:28
In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus took his closest disciples to pray in the quiet of the mountains. Our world is so noisy and full of information. Lent is an ideal time for cultivating quiet in order to draw closer to God. Personally, I am trying to quiet some noise in my own life, so I made a list to help me practice finding quiet. Here are twelve ideas to cultivate quiet; try just one or two and notice the difference.
- Create a dedicated prayer time and space. Spend time in the quiet talking with Jesus. The adoration chapel is an ideal quiet space. If you can’t commit to a full adoration hour just yet, make a dedicated time of your own for adoration each week. Or find a quiet corner of your home for prayer. Listen for God’s still, small voice (cf 1 Kings 19:12).
- Go outside. Yes, even in the winter, you can find ways to bundle up and spend time in nature. Take a walk without music. Visit a nature center or public garden. Let nature’s sounds drift around you. Just sit alone and notice what’s happening around you and inside you. Enjoy God’s creation!
- Tune out to tune in. Consider a social media fast, a break from your phone each evening, or even for a whole day. At the very least, turn the notifications off to regain some peace. Write a brief journal if you notice thoughts and feelings bubbling up that you feel like sharing. Call a friend to share instead of posting online.
- Relish quiet moments. When natural silence happens, notice and relish it. There are several moments of silence during Mass that can seem empty, but are really opportunities to relish meaningful quiet. When you encounter silent moments, try to avoid filling them with your own thoughts or noises or by pulling out your phone. Just be present in the silence.
- Take a sacred pause. If you’re feeling stressed, take a few moments to close your eyes, breathe, and pray. Reconnect with your body, your heart, and God. He’s there with you every moment, you just have to pause and remember.
- Read just one book. Consider a media fast on Fridays during Lent by turning off all music, radio, television, and (non-work) emails, websites, and social media. When you get “the itch” to surf the web, pick up your chosen book instead. A Gospel or a good spiritual book are great choices. You may just finish it by Easter!
- Lay on your couch. Yep. Just turn off everything and sit in the silence. No spin cycle whirring, dryer running, dishwasher splashing, or pinging phone. Just you lying down and having ten screen-free minutes of peace each day. (If you have little kids, maybe your spouse could help by giving you time in your bedroom alone for this.)
- Find an empty meeting room. At the office, dip into a quiet conference room and just breathe for a few minutes. If anyone asks what you’re doing, tell them you’re finding a quiet place to gather your thoughts.
- Sit in the sanctuary. After school drop-off or on the way to work, take a few minutes to yourself in the quiet of the sanctuary. Light a candle and give God your intentions. Ask Him to lead you through the day. You don’t have to try to get anything done. Be completely unproductive and just sit in God’s presence. Sometimes being intentionally “unproductive” is the most fruitful action you can take.
- Practice turning off your voice. Make a point to not speak while another person is talking. Just listen and give non-verbal responses. This isn’t exactly experiencing silence; instead, you are actually creating a type of silence. This makes an open, welcoming space for another’s thoughts and ideas. Of course, speak when it’s your turn to add to the conversation. 🙂
- Don’t let your phone control you. Start and end your day with a few minutes of silence, including digital media “noise.” Try to avoid picking up your phone first thing in the morning or last thing at night. Leave it for later. Maybe make a goal to only use your phone during certain times or pick it up less often. Consider a “digital Sabbath” by turning your phone off on Sundays. Delete apps that are distracting and leave you feeling a lack of peace. There are some apps (ironically!) that can help you break the smartphone habit.
- Spend Good Friday quietly. Make this decision as a family, and try to turn off all electronics for the day. You could play board games, bake hot-crossed buns, go for a nature walk, and of course attend Good Friday services. If all day feels like too much, spend from noon to 3:00 in silence, as these were the hours that Jesus hung on the cross.