This morning as I awoke and stumbled toward my first cup of coffee, I was greeted with a laminated sign placed on the door: “Give the gift of silence.” it read. Last night I had seen the sign in several places around the retreat center where I am staying. As I noticed their placement, I chuckled a bit because, in truth, they were a kinder and gentler way of saying “Be quiet!” in that way our parents or teachers did when our vocal rowdiness was reaching a fever pitch. Near meeting rooms. Outside the chapel. Along a hallway that passes by rooms where sisters and brothers who have given their lives to religious service. These signs were a reminder that others are here for quiet, reflection and prayer.
My reason for being here is the once a year interviewing of people who are hoping to be ordained for ministry in the United Methodist Church. While our time here will contain prayer and worship, we are engaged in meetings and group activities that are not always quiet, certainly not silent. The work we have been given to do requires us to actually talk a lot. And because we are friends and colleagues who don’t often get to see one another, we can tend to talk and laugh sometimes in a volume that can reach a few decibels. I wondered if those who live and work here remembered that abut us and posted the signs before our arrival. In hope. As a gift.
We can give many gifts in a day. Most of them are not wrapped up in brightly colored paper and tied with a ribbon. Our presence for one thing. The gift of being fully present to another is one of, if not the best, gift we can give another person. We know this is true because we cherish when someone gives it to us. I remember with great fondness the times when I could stop my busyness to be fully present to one of my children. To simply allow our conversation, our snuggling, our breathing together to lift our day to some moments that seemed a sacrament. I also am quite aware of offering the gift of presence to those I am blessed to visit in hospital or care center. Almost always I am, in turn, gifted right back with the presence of the other and recognize also the presence of the One in our midst.
Presence and silence are two amazing gifts we have to offer that cost us nothing. And then there are the gifts of smiles and laughter and tears and really seeing another. I believe that even when we choose to see, really see, the presence of any other part of Creation…..the trees in their winter nakedness, the black crows swooping as they have been lately, the icicles shining in the brilliant sun……we are blessing the One who caused them to be. This seeing, this gift of presence connects us with the wholeness of the world in which we walk and make meaning and tell the story of who we are.
What gifts will you offer today? To whom or what will you offer these gifts? The truth about giving gifts, of course, is that we almost always receive back more than we give. It seems to be some magical or miraculous act of nature.
This day I pray that I can still my need to talk at all times especially as I walk by those signs imploring me to do otherwise. I will try to give the gift of silence to those who are here for that opportunity to unplug from the busyness of their own lives and to be in this place that has offered the gift of solace, reflection and prayer. This gift of silence wiIl undoubtedly help me to listen more fully and be more present to those whose hopes and work I have come to hear. I have a feeling I will receive much more than I could ever give. It has always been so.
