Silence. Few yearn for it, most fear it. It’s difficult to find in modern society where almost every attempt at silence is interrupted by a cell phone. Many are uncomfortable with silence: always having the ipod playing at the ear or the television babbling.
Silence greatly facilitates an encounter with oneself and with God. Have you ever noticed how when night falls and you get ready for bed, your worries and anxieties often creep up? As silence falls over your heart, things are allowed to surface, sometimes leading to a bad night’s sleep. Noise keeps us busy, incapable of allowing thoughts (good or bad) to surface.
A silent retreat allows you to disconnect from the outside world. A silent retreat allows you to hear yourself think and identify all the underlying currents flowing through your heart and mind. A silent retreat allows you to hear the voice of God, allowing Him to comfort you, heal you, chastise you, purify you and encourage you.
This year I went for the second time to Ignatius House in Atlanta, located on 22 acres on the banks of the Chattahoochee River.
The beautiful grounds, amazing food, simple rooms, and silence make it an ideal location for a silent retreat. Anyone yearning to deepen their relationship with God or perhaps struggling in the midst of a life-changing decision or tragedy, is a candidate for a silent retreat. God has many surprises for us, we just need to slow down and listen. Jesus did say to us, “whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.” We have ears, but so many times we do not listen: silence allows us to listen.
You will find below the link to Ignatius House and pictures I took of the grounds. It is worth taking the time for a retreat, even if just for one day, to enter into the silence.
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