Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Archbishop William E. Lori prays silently during a service at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Silence and stillness  


By
Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: Amen, Commentary, Full-Court Catholic

In slowing the pace of my life after my retirement, I now see how hurried I used to be. In seeking silence and calm, I realize how loud and chaotic my days once were.  

I am not in a hurry these days. Moving about with less urgency, I witness how fast and reckless many of us are when driving, shopping or rushing into a coffee shop to grab a double shot of caffeine to take to a car that’s double parked, fueled for a double-speed commute to work.  

 In that same coffee shop, it’s noticeable that those seated at tables or standing in line bombard their senses with constant stimulation through video screens and mobile phones that stream a flood of images, music, news and commentary. Our screens are with us everywhere.   

 We willingly expose ourselves to the onslaught of information, stimulation, hustle and bustle. We’ve become accustomed to the turmoil and agitation it can cause. We normalize our distracted condition and often do not notice the negative impact on our interior being. Where do we make space for God in our cluttered, hectic lives? It is a question I tended to ignore when I was working. Now I confront it.   

 Blaise Pascal, a 17th-century philosopher, addressed our addiction to distraction and busyness long before the age of the iPhone when he wrote, “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” He made that observation 400 years ago.   

 A devout Catholic, Pascal pointed to the need for interior peace in nurturing a daily, intimate connection with God. I can personally attest to the power of turning off the noise and finding time for peace as pathways to moving closer to Christ.   

 For 40 years working in TV news, my days were a scramble of information and video images that I organized for presentation at a strict deadline. Constant glances at the clock while writing and editing or when driving hurriedly to a live shot location were the norm in a pressurized, fast-paced and frenetic workday.   

 I stepped away from TV news and in retirement I continue to discover the riches of a reordered pace of life. Away from the stress of constant time checks, I find myself better able to pursue the peace and quiet needed for a close relationship with God.   

Daily Mass, praying the rosary, reading books on spirituality, taking walks in nature and listening to Bible reflections and Catholic podcasts have replaced the rush and pressure of the broadcast deadlines I faced for so long.  

 Among the books I’ve read is “The Power of Silence” by Cardinal Robert Sarah in which he writes, “Without silence, God disappears in the noise.”  

 It should not take retirement to realize the benefits and fulfillment of a calmer life. I knew I had to leave the demands of my work to be the husband, father and community servant God wants me to be, and I was inspired by others who made similar decisions.   

 Hall of Fame basketball coach Jay Wright retired at the height of his success as a two-time national champion at Villanova University. Wright said he noticed how the demands of his work affected his Catholic worship as he found himself sometimes sending text messages to his players while he was attending Mass. The coach said his work obsession became overwhelming and upon announcing his retirement from coaching, he said, “I look forward to not living that way.”   

 We make choices about how we live. I still have busy days with commitments to family, church, school and community. The weight of a loaded schedule is possible even in retirement, but the weight is made lighter in silence with God, and in time for stillness to stop and sip coffee instead of taking it to go.  

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