“True silence… is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment” (William Penn, 1699).
During our Meeting for Worship on Sundays at Wokingham Quaker Meeting House, we always sit for an hour, waiting for inspiration; potentially, in complete silence.
However, when the Spirit moves us, we minister to Friends; in spoken prayer, scriptural reading, personal insight or God-given wisdom.
Waiting in this context is not about anticipation, rather it involves sitting in awareness, bringing our experience to God. This includes awareness of our thoughts and feelings, which creates the opportunity to be free from the power of distractions such as day-dreaming or negative emotions.
That freedom enables a deeper receptivity to God’s presence, peace, love, teaching and joy. Jesus likens such a state of readiness to “servants waiting for their master to return… so that when he comes and knocks, they can immediately open the door for him” (Luke 12:36).
In Quaker Meetings, silence is a collective experience, for Jesus tells us that when we are gathered together in his name, he is with us (Matthew 18:20).
Collective silence can be a surprisingly powerful and intimate experience, and allows for mutual receptivity and empathy for others, in our openness to God. Indeed, Jesus tells us that nothing is more important than that “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength”, and that you shall “love your neighbour as yourself” (Mark 12:30-31).
Some people find it difficult to sit in silence. The self-awareness that is enabled may be overwhelming, especially if someone habitually avoids difficult feelings. The Quaker experience of silence enables a sympathetic understanding of and support for those who are new to silent prayer.
Quakers also find that periods of silence through private prayer and meditation, are very beneficial and enjoyable.
Indeed, Jesus instructs us: “…when you pray, go into your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret” (Matthew 6:6).
This is something we can all do, even if we don’t go to church. A short period of silence is still valuable; even one minute, a few times a day, can enable a transformational relationship with God.
Nicki Sutcliffe from Wokingham Quakers, writing on behalf of Churches Together in Wokingham
