Silence is wonderful!

We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature -- trees, 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. - Mother Theresa  

This last week or two I have been on holiday, and this year we chose to do our family vacation at Hornby Island with my brother's family and my dad.  Infinite sunsets, purity of sand and blissful silence, draw me closer in appreciation of where I am with God, and gently restores my soul.  Do you ever feel like you need some silence in your life to hear God speaking to you?

Too often my life becomes busy with work and distractions, and I turn away and follow the road more traveled just to get the job done.  But reflecting on what God wants for me definitely requires that I  find times to block my distractions, the humming noise of technology, work and errands.  Finding time to reflect and pray in silence,  may be hard for some, but as teachers we are called to hear God's Voice, so that we can encourage our students to do likewise.  I am learning that silence invites peace, reflection and restoration, and encourages me to appreciate all of God's provisions. 

In my teaching role I have always felt that my place was to listen and encourage rather than to lecture.  I love it when one of my student's has a "Eureka" moment, and God instills wisdom and knowledge.  But that does not come from me simply giving the answers.  Rather it springs from a period of silence where a student has to look within and then up to God as he questions his own space, to locate the puzzle pieces of God's creation.

How we establish the physical space of learning in our homes and classrooms invites the learning space to grow.  I have just finished reading "To Know as We are Known" by Parker Palmer, which invites teachers to view education as a spiritual journey,  one in which the teacher and the student are called to enter a mutual relationship of love and respect for God.  This relationship is based on the mind and heart growing together, in a safe and trusted learning environment.

So as I plan my year this week, I am asking God to give me wisdom in planning those times of silence when I can speak to God, read His word and seek His counsel, and encourage my students to find that time in devotions or prayer.  I am also praying that the space we invite into our learning commons environment will be one which invites wonder and appreciation of the Lord's work, respect and love for one another in space, and an invitation to give Glory to God. 

May He give you infinite wisdom and knowledge as you plan your student's learning space.

¹⁹ Sin is not ended by multiplying words,
   but the prudent hold their tongues. Proverbs 10:19

Blessings,
Pippa