Our response to the invitation, ‘Be still and know that I am God,’ is beautifully summed up in the following reflection by an unknown writer.

THE WOMB OF SILENCE

Not in the whirlwind, not in the lightning,

not in the strife of tongues,

or in the jangling of subtle reasoning 

is He to be found,

but in the still small voice 

speaking in the womb of silence. 

Therefore be silent.

Let the past be silent.

Let there be no vain regrets, 

no brooding on past failures, 

no bitterness,

no judgment of oneself

or of others.

Let all be silent.

Be still and know. 

Be still and look.

Let the eyes of the mind be closed, 

that you may hear

what otherwise you would not hear, 

that you may know

what otherwise you would not know.

Abandon yourself to Him 

in longing love, simply,

holding on to nothing but Him.

So you may enter the silence of eternity 

and know the union of yourself with Him. 

And if in the silence he does not answer, 

He is still there.

His silence is the silence of love.

Wait then in patience 

and in submission.

It is good to wait in silence 

for His coming.

An extract from Finding Your Hidden Treasure

© 2010 Benignus O’Rourke OSA

Published by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd

© Photo: Ian Wilson OSA

Get the book: www.theaugustinians.org