I went to the dentist recently and afterward had a bit of time to fill before Curriculum Night started at my daughter’s high school. It was a sunny afternoon, so I meandered through the city, letting my mind wander, too. My thoughts flitted from Art Deco buildings and root canals to traffic and tattoos on young women; I remembered people I’d known long ago, and things on my endless to-do list.
Around 5 p.m., I realized I was near the church where my son John was baptized. Pleased, I went inside. Unlike my brain or my life, it was quiet. I sat marveling, almost gaping, at the silence. People came in and out. There was the sound of the church door closing, the creak of knees meeting kneelers, an occasional cough or sniffle.
It was glorious to be in a silent church with silent people who were communicating—silently—with God. We were all there for the same reason, oriented in the same direction, a company of pray-ers seeking their Lord.
My quiet time is almost always alone. It is different—and good—to be quiet with others before God. It is rich. When you are with others it’s clear that the difficulty that has driven you to your knees is not the only problem in the world. It’s clear that your voice is but one in the chorus of praise heading up to heaven. It’s clear that the Body of Christ isn’t just a concept, but a reality.
Yes, it is good to be quiet with others before God. Try it.
