[addendum to the Tenth Wednesday]

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Golden Silence

ast Saturday morning, as Alex and I presented the Boston Noon Hour to a men’s prayer breakfast in Braintree, nothing seemed to impress them – until we got to the part about the silence. At each of the Wednesday noon hours at Tremont Temple, at a certain point – usually towards the end of the hour, but sometimes soon after we begin – there comes a time, when the Holy Spirit does not give anything to anyone to pray. We just fall silent and wait, content to abide in His presence.

I remembered the first time it happened at Tremont. Unused to it, I wondered if I shouldn’t say or do something. Should I call upon God to pour out His grace on the city, and awaken the slumbering hearts of those who know Him?

But we’d already done that. And had we not asked Him to teach us how to pray? To give us each prayer that He would have us pray?

I looked around. None of the others seemed at all concerned. Their eyes were closed. Some were smiling.

More silence.

Finally I wrote on my clipboard, “Father, do you want me to pray something?  Should I pick a hymn? We could sing, “Holy, Holy, Holy – ”

In my heart I heard,

My son, are you not enjoying this?

Well, yes, but –

Relax, and enjoy it with me.

So – I did. And for the first time came to appreciate the old Quaker Prayer Meetings. They would gather and sit in silence in the presence of God, abiding in Him, until one felt called upon to say something. It was that way with our silences at Tremont. We would listen in our hearts or just – be.  

I had learned to pray in a Holy Spirit-led group in 1970. Then, as now, we tried to pray only what He gave us to pray. Some prayed in the flesh, admiring their efforts. Others prayed from the soul, treating the group to a mini-sermon. But most waited upon the Lord, not speaking until He gave them utterance.

New at it, I was so self-conscious that I refused to pray the prayer that came to me, even though I was pretty sure it was Him nudging me. So – He gave the same prayer to the person next to me. I almost wanted to say, “Hey, that was my prayer!” It took only a couple of weeks, before I would what He gave me to.

Now He was teaching me the opposite. Not to show off my ego, or be nervous if nothing was happening. Not to speak unless spoken to, by Him. To be content to rest easy in His Spirit.

As we broke up Saturday, the men promised to pray for us. And two, old prayer warriors for many seasons, said they’d come as soon as they could get there.

Why don’t you come this noon, and discover, as I have, just how golden a silence can be.