SILENCE

Silence is Golden

 

The Silence is Golden theme resonated with me as I was viewing some pictures I took at a weekend retreat at a nearby lake/conference place.

 

I couldn’t wait to get away to view the lake and hike; just to Be Still observing God’s wonderful creation and the silence that can often accompany it.

 

It was a rather wetter, cloudier weekend until the day we were leaving. Thankfully though I was able to sit with this view of the lake….Can you see the stillness of the water?  How calm and peaceful it was! It was wonderful  to just sit in silence and be still soaking in the beauty all around me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For me personally, Silence is Golden can be interpreted as an opportunity……

…to commune with God in stillness

…to feel closer to God with no distractions

…to see God at work all around me

…to experience calmness and peacefulness

 

Somehow I managed to not think about bringing my hiking boots to this retreat which would have been very handy considering the wetness that accompanied the weekend.

I, however, was intrigued to seek out the “Lane of Silence” that was on the map and set out to do at least a short hike around part of the lake in order to explore the “Lane of Silence” that I saw indicated on the map.

 

Yes, it was a little scary setting out by myself hoping not to get lost! In case you are wondering, yes, I was successful in returning!  There was actually a sign-out log for those deciding to hike on their own but I did not take the time to do that as I wasn’t sure if I was really going to go; unsure of how to even get to the path!  I did run into two ladies who helped direct me to the start of the path who said they would make sure I showed up for dinner.  Otherwise they would come looking for me!  🙂

I was so thankful for this holy spot which was so beautiful along with the indication I was on the right path~

 

 

 

It was actually one of those “God moments” that when I reached the top of the Lane of Silence I knew where I was as I had done some archery at a point near there. I decided to walk back the 1/2 mile on the main road rather than back down the path around the lake. It was nice that toward the end there was a convenient spot to connect back up on the path to the lake in order to return to my starting point.

 

Here are some pictures of the hike around part of the lake and the Lane of Silence where I experienced the Silence is Golden saying…..

 

 

 

 

Silence is Golden….

 

Doing a little research on that saying increased my knowledge to learn that it is actually part of a bigger proverb which states

“Speech is Silver, Silence is Golden.”

 

Isn’t that an interesting thought and one that holds much truth?

 

 

Sometimes in our relationships with others, it is so important to remember that “discretion can be more valuable than the most eloquent words” quoting from encylopedia.com.

 

Maybe remaining silent instead of voicing destructive words is the better route to go.

Maybe leaving something unsaid is more important.

Maybe there is more value in letting something go by, not saying anything.

 

The world we live in these days seems like we need to always be rushing around and going, going, going!  Aren’t we always doing and living in an overstimulated world?

 

 

May these thoughts be a reminder to you to ensure that you take a little time every now and then to…..

 

Seek God in the silence

Be still and calm

Know that He is God

And to remind ourselves that….

Our words are not what is most important

Having the last word is not always edifying

Our words can destroy

We can be wise and refrain from speaking

Learn to use our words wisely

Silence can be Golden

 

I will leave you with a wise quote from Abraham Lincoln….

“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.”

 

 

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.  –Psalm 62:1 (ESV)

Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.  –Proverbs 17:28  (NIV)

He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.  –Isaiah 53:7 (NLT)