J. Brent Bill
 Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Spirituality
"When we really want to hear, and be heard by, someone we love, we do not go rushing into noisy crowds. Silence is a form of intimacy. That's how we experience it with our friends and lovers. As relationships grow deeper and more intimate, we spend more and more quiet time alone with our lover. We talk in low tones about the things that matter... That is why Christ comes to us when our hearts and minds are still and silent."
-- J. Brent Bill in "Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Spirituality", p 7
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"Mark's Gospel opens with a flurry of messianic activity... Then, tucked away in a verse just before the chapter closes, we read, '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.'"
"Most of us miss that verse... Jesus knew that taking silence in the midst of busyness was a part of soulcare... If I want to model my life after Jesus', then I have to take time to care for my soul..."
"I've wondered if Jesus felt signals that told Him it was time for silence. If He did, then maybe I can learn them from His example, too."
-- J. Brent Bill in "Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Spirituality", p 67
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"Silence begins with expectation -- the expectation of encountering God. Holy silence is just not an exercise in clearing your thoughts or finding a little peace and quiet. Peace and quiet may come, but they will come as a result of having been in the presence of the ever-living, ever-loving Christ. One incentive for getting away from earthly noise and human voices is to hear the Voice from Heaven."
-- J. Brent Bill in "Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Spirituality", pp 70-71
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"As we learn the way of holy silence -- a silence that expects to encounter and hear God -- we begin finding our spirits in continuous communion with God. This can be true even when life rushes around us... We can be outwardly busy, while inwardly talking and listening to God."
-- J. Brent Bill in "Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Spirituality", p 73
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"When we discover the secret of being inwardly at worship while outwardly at work, we find that the soul's silence brings us to God and God to us. Silence takes us beyond the limits of consciousness and into the heart and mind and will of God."
-- J. Brent Bill in "Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Spirituality", p 74
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"While our goal, as people seeking the holy, is to be in constant communion with God, there are times that holy silence calls for a specific space and time. When that's the case, we will be drawn to make a place where that can happen. You may need to be creative... Only you know where your best place will be... Create a space that speaks to your soul's condition."
-- J. Brent Bill in "Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Spirituality", pp 74-75
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"Thomas Kelly asks a hard question -- 'Do you want to live in such an amazing divine Presence that life is transformed and transfigured and transmuted into peace and power and glory and miracle? If you do, you can. But if you say you haven't the time to go down into recreating silences, I can only say to you, 'Then you don't really want to... For... we find time for what we really want to do...''"
"Notice that Kelly doesn't say how much time is the 'right' amount of time. He is not very concerned with the quantity. It's the quality and intention of coming to God in silence. Silence isn't an added religious duty. Holy silence is not one more thing to do. It is something we do that give us, in a strange way, more time. It doesn't take time away. Holy silence is like love in that way. We can have love and give love and still have an abundant store. There is nothing to fear in giving away love."
-- J. Brent Bill in "Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Spirituality", pp 78-79
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"So how do you begin the practice of holding silence? One way to begin is to start by either sitting or lying down; whichever is more comfortable and appropriate... Then close your eyes and take a deep breath. Inhale and exhale slowly. Then do it even more slowly. It will seem forced at first... Feel your body gently rise and fall as you inhale and exhale."
"As you breathe, listen for the voice of the Spirit. Even listen for your own voice. What are you saying to you? What is God saying? Don't expect to hear or sense something immediately. This isn't something that happens after one or two breaths... Relax into silence."
"If you're having a hard time focusing on the silence, you might want to use a word or verse of Scripture or a prayer. Think about the various names given to Jesus -- Emmanuel, the Word, the Light, Prince of Peace, Morning Star, and the Good Shepherd. For many of us, the first steps we take into the world of silence are through the words of prayer. I used the Lord's Prayer..."
"[In your head and with your heart] you may want to sing, recite Scripture, remember something you've read, or call to mind some special spiritual words or phrases. All of these -- and any others you come up with -- are okay. Remember, Quakers have no rulebook. Use these as tools to help you focus on the eternal rather than the external."
"When you first begin practicing silence you might find it hard to stay focused. Your thoughts may wander. That's okay. The way of silence is not easy... Nothing worth doing seems to be achieved quickly... 'The mind wanders and the will falters again and again,' writes Thomas Green. '... But it is foolish to allow failures in concentration 'to plunge us into profitless self-condemnation'.... God is similarly pleased with our efforts and understanding of our many failures.' God will meet you in the effort. Don't get discouraged if your thoughts turn from the deep stuff of the Spirit to that ugly crack in the ceiling that you've been meaning to fix. Don't worry about it. The crack in the ceiling is part of your life, too. It is fine to be present where you are."
"When the crack, or other distractions, begin bothering you, bring yourself back to your breath. The more you practice, the easier it gets -- the more relaxed you become."
-- J. Brent Bill in "Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Spirituality", pp 80-83
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