Silencio

I was reading in my Foster book on Prayer today and came across the following. I thought it was worth sharing...

"A second time honored practice is 'silencio,' or the stilling of what the old writers called "creaturely activity." This means not so much a siclence of owrds as a silence of our grasping manipulative control of people and situations. It means standing firm against our codependency drives to control everyone and everything around us. The agitated creaturely activity hinders the work of God in us. In silencio therefore, we still every motion that is not rooted in God. We become quiet, hushed, motionless until we are centered. ... We let go of all distractions until we are driven into the core. We allow God to reshuffle our priorities and eliminate any unnecessary froth. "
and at the end of that section-
"We must silence every creature, we must silence ourselves, to hear in the deep hush of the whole soul, the effable voice of the spouse. We must bend the ear, because it is a gentle and delicate voice, only heard by those who no lnger hear anything else." -Francois Fenlon

I have been thinking a lot about this hush as the busy activities of the year seem to bear down on me. And more and more I am realizing how Fear is the weapon of the evil one, because it is the opposite of peace and drives our peace. Allowing ones soul to rest in peace, meaning the deep love of the Trinity, despite what busy occurences the physical body and mind may be experiencing is the only ground for true caring to grow from. I find that as the year draws closer and fear begins to creep in with questions about my future plans, or lonliness, or even how an introvert will handle to mass of people from day to day, I find my ability to care and genuinely love others begins to dwindle. Of late however, I have found the grace of God pulling me back to that place of rest. Even without my asking first, He is teaching me a new way of living. And from there, care, love, and peace begin to grow anew. My prayer for us this year my friends is that we will not allow fear to atrophy our ability to love and care for our brothers, sisters, friends, and family but that our Father will hold us fast in a prayer of rest we may or may not be aware of. Have a wonderful week yall!

love,
anna