Advent, December 15 - Silence

Rose Mary Dougherty, S.S.N.D., one of the most experienced and wisdom figures in post-modern spiritual direction tells one of the poignant stories of the value of silence and listening. 

A man came to see her for spiritual direction. Sr. Rose Mary was very tired on that particular day but she agreed to meet with the man. They sat back to back on the wall of a fountain. 

The man began to talk. And as he talked, Sr. Rose found herself nodding off from the lull of the fountain and the drone of the man's soothing voice. She fell asleep and awakened about 45 minutes later. Stunned and embarrassed at her own lack of attentiveness to her directee, Sr. Rose was about to apologise when the man stood up to leave. 

"Sister, I want to thank you for a wonderful hour. This was the longest time in my entire life that anyone has let me speak without interrupting me. I now know the answer to my question and I thank you for listening with such quiet attention." 

Sr. Rose did not tell the man that she had not heard a word that he had spoken. When silence enters sacred space, there are three people in that place - the director, the directee and God. The take away for all of us that day who were earning our license in the practice of spiritual direction? Listen well, say little and let God do the rest. Silence allows God to actually get a word in. 

Perhaps today might be the day to begin a new habit,