Years ago, I was invited to make a 'Silent' Retreat. The Convent Centre was outside Dublin. The time slot was for a weekend, beginning Friday night and finishing up on Sunday afternoon. This was a 'first' for me and I was looking forward to the whole adventure of Silence!
The first evening began with a chat about the Retreat we were going to do; taking time out from our normal busy life and adapting to a quiet space, an opportunity to develop and increase our spiritual life.
For me, that first night was an eye opener. I couldn't sleep. It was too quiet; no cars or street lights or activity, the way it would be in the City. We were surrounded by darkness and a very occasional sound of a owl or something, and silence!
However, it turned out to be a wonderful Retreat, stepping away from all the outer noises of life, and connecting with an awareness of the 'inner' peace within.
Now, with Covid 19 and lockdown, there is a certain similarity taking place, of living a quiet life away from the hustle and bustle of accepted modern life. In a way, we are being invited to pace ourselves more quietly and peacefully; letting go of many things that prove to be non essential.
If accepted with a good heart, we might well receive a positive attitude to lockdown, and find room in our lives for periods of welcome Silence!
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