"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10): Prayer is when we speak to God; meditation in the silence is when we listen to God.
In a loving relationship with another person, we spend time together with that person. Sometimes we talk to that person. Sometimes we remain silent and listen, really listen, to that person. For the relationship to remain healthy, there must be a balance between talking and listening.
It is the same in our relationship to God. In prayer we speak to God. In the silence of meditation, we listen to God. The Bible tells us that Jesus "went apart for a while." He would take time in the silence, sometimes for days, to simply listen.
Do you feel pressured and busy? Many of our lives are so scheduled that it may be difficult to find the time to get quiet and still for a length of time, and yet it is very nourishing to our souls as well as our bodies and minds.
The primary purpose of spending time in the silence is to enrich our relationship with God. In doing so, our minds become more peaceful. Our bodies become more relaxed. We are then able to take that peace into our relationships.
As our relationships become peaceful, it spreads into our communities, our cities, our nation and the world. It is like a ripple in a pond, and it starts within each one of us.
During the Season for Justice and Peaceful Solutions, we invite you to join us in several meditation practices and open yourself to the silence and experience the peace that surpasses understanding. We will introduce several modalities of meditation that will teach the young and old how to still their minds, experience the present moment, release stress and clear the body of toxic energy. Each of these activities works well for the beginner as well as those experienced with meditation.
Silent retreats will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m Saturday, Feb. 28, and Saturday, March 28. These retreats will continue throughout the year on the last Saturday of each month.
Weekly meditations are held, with 20-minute guided meditations and time in the silence at 6:30 p.m. each Wednesday evening.
A program on meditation for families and individuals will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 7. This will be an experiential and fun workshop, and beneficial for all ages 7 to 100. All techniques taught can be used at home, school, church and in the workplace.
All the meditation programs will be at Unity Church of Christianity, 5237 S. Bryant Blvd., and are open to all faith traditions. Offerings will be accepted for all events.
For information, contact Becky Benes at (325) 949-1450 or Onenessoflife.com, or Janie Kelley at (235) 650-3741 or Unitysanangelo.org.
Come be the change you want to see in the world. It all begins with you.
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