Working in a school and teaching 3rd graders for over 35 years, I have come to treasure silence. As was mentioned in the first prompt of this Day #16, Rumi says that silence is eloquent. I couldn't agree more. Rumi also has another quote about silence that is so true, "Silence is the language of God, all else is poor translation". So when I take time to do this, and I try to practice it daily, it is a sacred, uninterrupted time which I use to clear a path in my mind, a white-space - if you will, to really listen to whatever is coming my way. It might be Divine whispers, gems of wisdom from within my own body and mind, or a chance to just be more aware and grateful for the peace and comfort of what is already in my life. I also must add that breathing deeply and exhaling deeply is an important part of this practice for me. Being human, my mind can sometimes wander back to the situations and issues of the day. This is normal; we are all dynamic beings. But using a simple mantra helps me to get back to opening up that inner space once again. These two I often use and I offer them to you. One is "Present moment - Healing moment - Perfect moment". And another is: "Christ be near me, Christ be beside me, Christ be within me". Repeating these (or others that just pop into my mind and seem to fit the moment) always bring me back to the solitude, the silence, and the openness within. If you find solace in the Scriptures, Psalms 46:10 is wonderful for this....."Be still and know that I am God." May you all find that place of Sacred Silence within you. It is an authentic, essential act of self-compassion. Blessings and Peace, kjoyw
