Silent Night

After a long day of activities, I relish bedtime…

It is wonderful to slide in-between clean sheets-soft blanket-and take a moment to pause over a treasured book so that I might quiet my thoughts enough to drift into sleep…

And yet the house can seem ominous at times when the an unfamiliar sound breaks the quiet of the house.

We can feel vulnerable–exposed and unnerved by the silence.

Le Lac d’ Annecy, 1896, Paul Cezanne, 25 9/16 x 31 7/8 inches, The Courtauld Gallery London. Image Source  

So how do we handle a time of perceived silence from God?

As I focus my thoughts on this painting, I see the color of dark blue and feel the moonlight illuminating the blackness of the night. I can connect this to the ideas of coolness — mystery — secret — things unknown.

If I allow myself to drift towards worry, I might see evil…

But if instead I hold onto my confidence in the presence of God even in or maybe especially, in the mystery, I can connect to the ideas of how God works within each of us to reform and redirect our inner lives towards a new birth.

As we continue in this series of learning to live “Out of Control/Into God’s Hands” I have been fascinated by my recent readings on  “The Dark Night of the Soul”

Believing I had already experienced my “dark night” I was fascinated to learn that we might travel through times of restlessness and dryness many times in our spiritual journey.

Gerald May explains:

It is the secret way in which God not only liberates us from our attachments and idolatries but also brings us to the realization of our true nature. The night is the means by which we find our heart’s desire, our freedom for love…The liberation takes place in hidden ways, beneath our knowledge and understanding. It happens mysteriously, in secret, and beyond our conscious control.

p. 67 & 5 The Dark Night of the Soul

Sister Wendy explains this painting:

[Cezanne] realized that the visible world is not just ‘out there’ unchanging. Not at all, it changes all the time, as light changes and as we move around and see things from another angle. Even our moods affect what we see. ~ p.12 My Favorite Things

Dark night does not mean an absence of God, it can also mean rest, calm, reflect, pause, retreat and even solace:)

The Apostle Paul writes:

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever – increasing glory which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit! ~ 2 Cor 3: 17-18

I believe you will be better able to press into the mystery of God’s care and enjoy the process of you spiritual journey if you learn to embrace these times as quiet retreat hideaways where God’s spirit is gently unfolding  a new birth within you.

May God’s peace be with you:))

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Despite my rule of no carols before October 30th, I enjoyed this performance and I really could hear the Spirit talking to me as these fine gentlemen brought their personal style to Silent Night:)