Why do we feel at ease when we rest? Part of this may come from the quiet. While quiet can sometimes mean we’re alone with our own thoughts and those can be filled with anxiety and worry, much of the time this isn’t the case. Think of a time when you walked in a park, the woods, or even your backyard in the early morning or late evening. The lack of noise allows you to be present. Instead of focusing on distractions, we are focusing on the present; what is happening in the NOW.
When you lay down to sleep or relax in front of the TV or a book, what is happening? When people say they “just want to relax”, they are effectively saying they want to live in the present for a short time. To not plan for the future or worry about the past. To not think of overdue bills, family obligations, work stress. They just want to exist for a few moments. This is considered relaxing because it frees you from the burden of thought and responsibility. You are taking quiet time. I sue to word take because while it is offered, it won’t be forced on you. Any workaholic knows this well. There is time to rest and be still and quiet but unless we complete the action of taking, it will never be enjoyed.
Personally, there have been several opportunities I have experienced over the past few weeks where I got some of this quiet time. I heard about Eucharistic Adoration that was available 24/7 at a church near me, where you simply go an be present in front of Jesus in the exposed Blessed Sacrament. You can pray, sit, meditate, gaze in wonder and gratitude, or just close your eyes and breathe. I also went to a monastery, where there was an absence of distraction. It was set in the woods, far out of town. While people were going about their tasks, there wasn’t any talking. There was also a small chapel that I was able to sit in for about 5 minutes. Lastly, and this is a daily practice, I have been taking advantage of the quiet in the morning. This is quite easy if you can muster the discipline to get up before the sun, because the world is quiet and so the payoff is actual silence. You can sit, meditate, read, drink some tea, pray, ponder, or just exist.
It has been noted that Jesus often went off to quiet. Probably the most famous is Jesus going off to the desert for 40 days. He went into a geography known to be desolate, void of life, and quiet. But even throughout his later life, many Scripture verses say Jesus would go alone to pray. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35) So do likewise and find some quiet. Quiet allows you to be alone with God and just exist. Often, we can find restoration in this simple practice.
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