A quarter of the way into the new millennium the reality for many people from this community is that their lives and stories are sidelined. Their voices are silenced.
So, although people from the GMH may have a spiritual practice of silence, authors in these communities tend to write more about silencing than silence-based prayer.
This new series is a way to bring some voices from the GMH community into the conversations and resources about silence on the Seeds of Silence website.
So, although people from the GMH may have a spiritual practice of silence, authors in these communities tend to write more about silencing than silence-based prayer.
This new series is a way to bring some voices from the GMH community into the conversations and resources about silence on the Seeds of Silence website.
February 2025:
Tia Norman, 'When Silence Speaks'
Image: adapted from a picture generated by ChatGPT
When silence speaks
It was on a retreat in the Hill Country of Texas that I discovered how loud silence could be. It was an extended weekend getaway during a turbulent time in my life. My world was noisy and confusing. Upheaval in my personal relationships collided with a professional crisis leaving my heart broken and longing for direction.
As the retreat center welcomed our group they also welcomed a guest to the podium. A tall, slender, gentleman with white hair and glasses named Jack. Jack moved slowly and intentionally and when he found his way in front of the microphone he did something that changed my life forever. He didn’t speak. He stood there as an eternity passed, microphone on, and not one word passed through his lips. There, in that eternal silence, I noticed that something became very loud within me. I became aware of how my mind was the noisiest place in that quiet room. I became aware of all the stories I was making up about Jack and why he was silent… 'Was he nervous? Was he ok? Did he forget what he was going to say?' On and on the noise continued as silence and time intermingled.
Of course, Jack did eventually speak. I noticed there was something about him. His presence and his continued comfort and use of silence seemed to invite me to discover what might be available beneath the noise of my own mind and life. I remember more about what he didn’t say than I do about what he said.
An actual invitation did follow as part of what he shared. He invited anyone that felt moved to join him for a 'sit' the next morning. That sit was my introduction to Centering Prayer. That silence and practice still speaks loudly nearly a decade later inviting me to discover new truths deep beyond the noise.
When silence speaks
It was on a retreat in the Hill Country of Texas that I discovered how loud silence could be. It was an extended weekend getaway during a turbulent time in my life. My world was noisy and confusing. Upheaval in my personal relationships collided with a professional crisis leaving my heart broken and longing for direction.
As the retreat center welcomed our group they also welcomed a guest to the podium. A tall, slender, gentleman with white hair and glasses named Jack. Jack moved slowly and intentionally and when he found his way in front of the microphone he did something that changed my life forever. He didn’t speak. He stood there as an eternity passed, microphone on, and not one word passed through his lips. There, in that eternal silence, I noticed that something became very loud within me. I became aware of how my mind was the noisiest place in that quiet room. I became aware of all the stories I was making up about Jack and why he was silent… 'Was he nervous? Was he ok? Did he forget what he was going to say?' On and on the noise continued as silence and time intermingled.
Of course, Jack did eventually speak. I noticed there was something about him. His presence and his continued comfort and use of silence seemed to invite me to discover what might be available beneath the noise of my own mind and life. I remember more about what he didn’t say than I do about what he said.
An actual invitation did follow as part of what he shared. He invited anyone that felt moved to join him for a 'sit' the next morning. That sit was my introduction to Centering Prayer. That silence and practice still speaks loudly nearly a decade later inviting me to discover new truths deep beyond the noise.
Tia Norman, February, 2025.
Black Contemplative Prayer Summit
Join us for a transformative experience at the First Black Contemplative Prayer Virtual Summit, where we bring together Black spiritual teachers and thought leaders to lead a powerful and enriching dialogue on prayer & practice. This summit is designed for everyone, led by Black voices, and aimed at diversifying the contemplative space.
Why this Summit matters:
'In the contemplative community, diversity is essential. This summit addresses the critical question: "Where are the leaders and practitioners of color?" By providing a platform for Black contemplative speakers and teachers, we elevate the Black voice and ensure it leads the conversation on spiritual growth and practice.'
'In the contemplative community, diversity is essential. This summit addresses the critical question: "Where are the leaders and practitioners of color?" By providing a platform for Black contemplative speakers and teachers, we elevate the Black voice and ensure it leads the conversation on spiritual growth and practice.'
* The term 'Global Majority Heritage' (GMH) refers to people whose backgrounds are from non-Western, non-White ethnic and cultural groups, reflecting the fact that the majority of the world’s population comes from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. The term challenges the traditional framing of racial and ethnic minorities by emphasizing that these populations are, in fact, the global majority.
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