What do you do when you feel empty, and the voice in your head is completely silent?
Sometimes when it’s time to write, I have nothing. More than nothing – I call it beyond nothing. Negative nothing. Nothing to the nth power.
That’s what happened to me this week, as I thought about what to share about how my family practices faith right now.
My lack of thought doesn’t mean we’re not practicing faith. We’ve worshiped, we’ve prayed, we’ve forgiven each other. So why can’t I come up with anything to share?
In desperation, I started reading the blog. That was and wasn’t a great idea; because while I got lots of inspiration, I felt like I would be copying if I got ideas from others.
Truly frantic now, I said to my husband, “I can’t think of anything to write for the blog.” Guess what he said? That’s right – nothing.
His lack of response, instead of frustrating me, drew me deeper into myself. His lack of response was a perfect response, because I realized it’s what I do with the girls when they’re stuck. I’m silently supportive, or supportively silent, while they work the problem out for themselves.
As parents, we may want to solve our children’s problems. We want prevent any pain or sadness they might feel. We want to defend their poor judgment and explain away their shortcomings. But sometimes the best thing we can do is to be silent.
Jesus appreciated silence. How often did he break away from the throngs of followers, including his disciples, and retreat into solitude? He knew that when he prayed and talked to God, he needed to be able to hear God’s responses.
Sometimes, I get impatient – I want the silence to end, and I want to hear some answers from somewhere, anywhere! When I calm down, I remember that God works in God’s time. Who am I to question God’s time? So until I hear what God wants to tell me, I’ll sit with my silence. I’ll sit, and I’ll wait. Because what isn’t silent is my faith – faith that my voice will return, and I’ll yet again have some God-given wisdom to share.
[Photo credit: By Maik Meid (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons]
What helps you stay patient when it is time to wait?
I am a witness of yesterdays silence, she looked empty with ideas but I knew she will come up with some great writing, she always does. I am so proud to work with this lady.
Thank you for always guiding me and your silence.
Thanks for this, it was exactly what I needed to read this morning. Having nothing to say/write means I have more space to listen. And listening is what is needed at this moment in my life and the life of the community I live in.