I wondered on several occasions about the way the birds find shelter when the day becomes cloudy and threatens to rain. The above pictures are of such occasions taken on different days, when the sunlight faded away followed by a cloudy and windy surrounding.
None of these birds above were visible from a distance. By drawing near to the trees or bush, one could watch these birds, who were mostly hidden by the foliage.
The indications from the cacophony and the body language were of stress. The silence following this when it rained was noticeable.
I found that as a message worth pondering upon!
The silence while in stress!
I found such a silence in the part of Jesus of Nazareth, when He was confronted by a crowd ready to stone a woman who was involved in adultery (John 8:1-11). Jesus looked down and kept writing on the ground. After a while, He looked up and addressed the crowd, 'He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her'! Hearing this, people left one by one leaving the woman unharmed. Jesus sent her away, saying, '...go your way and from now on, sin no more'!
The stressful time is an occasion which for calls a contemplated response as against an agitated response.
Our responses in stressful situations spring at three levels.
First is a cognitive response based on facts, reason, and evidence.
At another level, there is an emotional response of anger, sympathy or disengagement or indifference.
There is yet another deeper level of thoughtful or well considered response which can open the door for resolution, diffusion or for initiating a healing process.
That was how Jesus of Nazareth responded in a stressful situation by being silent not find a way forward that can be restorative and upbuilding.
Silence in that context was a means for disengagement from the impulsive and reactive behaviour that was the first response of the people around.
The interior silence helps us to transcend the fret and fury created in stressful situations and find a way to bring peace and concordance, diffusing intimidation, harmful attitude or retaliatory act of cruelty!
I remember on one occasion when I was chairing the governing board of an organisation when the discussion on a difficult matter vertically split the members into a polarised situation. I suggested that we met after ten minutes during which time we remained silent without having any discussion with any one. Following the season of silence when we met, the proposal that came from both the groups was similar paving the way for resolving the issue under dispute.
I remember occasions how short spells of silence during family conversations would help, when one feels that the conversation is getting convoluted without a direction. Such occasions help us to feel connected with ourselves to sense what is beyond the cerebral level of engagement.
We are endowed with the Spirit of God within us. It is during periods of silence, we become even more aware of this, leading us to the truth beyond what is obvious.
Most of us would be able to recollect instances of unresolved matters receiving clarity and coherence when we took time to consider or ponder over silently !
There is better readiness to face stressful situations, when we become silent to discern!
M.C.,Mathew (text and photo)
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