Mr. Gabber closes the door to spiritual silence

By Mary Regina Morrell
Catholic Online

"He who spares his words is truly wise, and he who is chary of speech is a man of intelligence." (Proverbs 17:27)

People like to talk; there's no doubt about it.

While sharing dinner with friends recently, we noticed an increasingly common phenomenon taking place at the table next to us. A young couple was waiting for their dinner to arrive. Instead of talking to each other, however, they were both engaged in separate conversations on their cell phones.

A visit to any restaurant will inevitably make you privy to someone else's phone conversation, even if you weren't in the least bit interested in that person's investment strategies, political opinions or fight with their spouse over a purchase of bedroom furniture.

Personally, I am very grateful for the technology that has allowed me the convenience of staying in touch with loved ones, especially children, at a moments' notice. As a parent, having a cell phone has afforded me many more nights of worry-free sleep. As a woman often traveling alone, it has also been a tremendous comfort.

But honestly, I would be very appreciative if someone would pass a bill for "cell-phone free environments" - places where quiet space is somehow expected, or at least greatly appreciated, like the library, restaurants, book stores or, most especially, church.

We have all become accustomed to the inevitable sound of cell phones going off during Mass, but answering the phone and actually talking is another issue all together.

When I recently witnessed a middle-aged man talking on his phone while waiting in line for confession, well . . . words are inadequate.

What is remarkable is that this compulsion for idle chatter is not unique to this century. It has probably existed as long as humankind has communicated verbally.

The noted Lebanese poet and philosopher Kahlil Gibran, born in the late 1800s, found the situation even more frustrating. He writes: "Is there in this universe a nook where I can go and live happily by myself? Is there any place where there is no traffic in empty talk? Is there on this earth one who does not worship himself talking? Is there any person among all persons whose mouth is not a hiding place for the knavish Mister Gabber?"

The real problem with too much talking is the time it takes away from our need to listen.

Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen, a respected doctor, author and pioneer in mind-body health practices, emphasizes that, "The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention.... A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than the most well-intentioned words."

The same is true of our relationship with God.

It is only in the times that we still the chatter of our own thoughts and voices that we can hear God's voice.

We need to find God, said Mother Teresa, "and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - tress, flowers, grass - grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence...we need silence to be able to touch souls."

There is wisdom in silence. Its fertile ground nourishes the Spirit's life within us. But in this culture of noise and gabbing we must make an effort to cultivate the soil with prayer or the sound of our own voices will keep us focused on the world "according to us."

On the other hand, Mother Teresa reflected, "Silence gives us a new way of looking at something."

__________________

Mary Regina Morrell is a religious educator, author and syndicated columnist. Her book Angels in High Top Sneakers is published by Loyola Press.

Contact

Diocese of Metuchen
http://www.diometuchen.org NJ, US
Mary Regina Morrell - Associate Director, Office of Religious Education, 732 562.1990

Email

mmorrell@diometuchen.org

Keywords

talk, silence, spiritual

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