silence is golden

I find myself thinking a lot about silence. One resounding theme that has arisen is the idea of silence and listening. I think that I already knew this but it is always good to be reminded. I am reminded that in order to effectively serve any people you have to truly listen to them. You have to care enough to say less than they do. A classmate once said that “God gave me one mouth and two ears…I think He was trying to tell me something” and this has stuck in my mind. In order to minister to a people group you have to listen to their needs, mission, and vision. In order to minister to those who are doing the ministering to those people in the long term you have to listen. As a long term worker in a foreign culture, my guess is that the best thing you can do is let them do the talking: a ministry of presence. And heed their life experience in country.
It is ironic (or providential- you pick) that while I am discussing ideas of truly listening to those we visit I am reading a book by Dr. Allison (a professor at my seminary). He wrote a book called “Luminous dusk: finding God in the deep, still places” that I found in Haiti and have brought with me (book swapping with those I meet has been wonderful!). I began reading this before the discussions of silence came up in my last stop but wonder if this was the way to prepare my mind for the discussions. Some quotes:
“Only someone who knows how to remain essentially silent can really talk” ~Kierkegaard
“Silence is sacred. It cannot be made secular.” ~Allison
It is ironic to be thinking of these in the juxtaposition of many cultures. I have been in many cultures that do not value silence and noise is all around me. It is in this environment that I must guard my silence. I heard a friend say recently that she feels naked without her ipod. I have only recently purchased one of these new technologies (I am always behind in the time) and in the craziness of the worlds I am entering, this ipod that is supposed to provide comfort actually barrages my already overwhelmed brain. Instead I sit in silence. I hear the tapping of my computer keys, the low whirring of the fan beside me and the ever present passing cars (but no honking here in Singapore…yeah!!)
I am safely in Singapore and with much to think about…
hoping you are well wherever this finds you!