“We need quiet time to examine our lives openly and honestly — spending quiet time alone gives your mind an opportunity to renew itself and create order.” Susan Taylor
My soul was renewed this past week by the gift of spending time with our two grandsons. They are ages six and four, and the wonder and curiosity they express about virtually everything around them are infectious.
I recently made up something I named the “quiet game” that we play together, one that builds on their innate sense of delight and curiosity. In this game, I set a timer for anywhere from thirty seconds to a minute, and the rules are that we all have to be completely quiet, listening to all the sounds that we hear in the silence. When the timer goes off, everyone takes turns naming the sounds they heard. The beauty of this game is that we can play it anywhere, and each different location reveals new sounds.
When we played the quiet game outside this past weekend, we were fascinated by all the birds that we heard. Both the variety of sounds and the loudness of their songs were remarkable. I mentioned to them that I heard on the radio a person talking about how during this time, when the world is much quieter than usual, many people are reporting that they hear bird songs they have not previously heard. My grandsons and I can attest to this being true.
I wish I had a video I could show you of our grandsons’ faces when we play the quiet game. They open their eyes very wide, slowly turn their heads back and forth, and the expression on their faces is one of excited anticipation. When they hear a unique sound, their faces light up with delight, and it’s clear they can barely wait to report what they have heard.
Every morning I play a slightly different version of the quiet game as I take time to sit in silence for at least ten minutes. This time of meditation is essential to my overall well-being as it allows me to notice things I might not otherwise. This includes the presence of the Spirit, as well as what is bubbling up from the deeper recesses of my mind. Noting the joys that arise helps me to be grateful for the many blessing in my life. When worries arise, I simply note them and then gently release them. Sometimes I write in a journal about what I have heard and experienced in my quiet time.
Whether I am playing the quiet game with my grandsons or engaging in my quiet time each morning, my goal is to approach both experiences with the curiosity and delight that my grandsons so fully embody. When I can do that, I experience the truth expressed in the above quote from Susan Taylor, “Spending quiet time alone gives your mind an opportunity to renew itself and create order.”
How might you embrace the gift of quiet this week, both within and around you?
Article by The Rev. Dr. D. Scott Stoner, Living Compass
