WYD Special - WYD (D+4) Reflection

Be Still And Know That I Am God!

Silence has many dimensions. It can be a regression and an escape, a loss of self, or it can be presence, awareness, unification, self-discovery. Negative silence blurs and confuses our identity, and we lapse into daydreams or diffuse anxieties. Positive silence pulls us together and makes us realize who we are, who we might be, and the distance between these two.

— Thomas Merton quoted in Thomas Merton: Essential Writings edited by Christine M. Bochen

Being aware of the 2 possible outcomes that silence bring, I find myself in a dilemma when we journey towards Randwick for our Vigil with the Pope. A small group of us has decided to take the shorter route, 3km walk to Randwick vs the proposed 19km walk. But I believe that the length of the journey is not as important as what we do during the journey - sharing our faith & encountering our Lord. Yes, I pray that this may be our Emmaus Walk. As such, I suggested that our group take short breaks for personal reflection, along the journey. Was it right of me to make this suggestion?

Indeed, I was humbled & enriched by what the Lord has revealed to me through our wonderful group. For our group, silence brought about :

1) Times of Refreshing. Away from the imperfect day to day living with our peers (bearing with their complaints & demands), some of us are once again reminded to love like our Lord Jesus and to examine our own failings. Suddenly, we began to see the logs in our eyes, rather than the specks in others. Indeed, the hardest part of my journey was to come to terms with my imperfections - impatience, selfishness, sarcasm & many more. The silence reminded us of our purpose (the source & goal) of this pilgrimage - to encounter our Good Lord. We are strengthened by the silence. Though no words are exchanged, but we are comforted by the Lord's presence as we pause for a moment for prayer in St. Peter's Church.

2) Moments of Gratitude. Away from the familiarity, some of us are reminded of the people whom we have often taken for granted - parents. Yes, we miss their smiles, and care. It is an irony that they only became closer to us when we are physically apart. I, too, need to show more appreciation when I return home. But for now, I also realise that I am travelling from home (physical) to another home-coming (spiritual). Although we were travelling together side by side, as representatvies of different countries, but as pilgrims, we were all heading towards the same destination - Randwick (and perhaps heaven some day). We need to claim & live out our identities as true sons & daughters of our loving Father and brothers & sisters to one another. Yes, we do not relate only by blood ties, but by our spiritual bonds, care & love for one another. So, let us be grateful for the people that God has sent into our lives (yes, even the "difficult ones"). The least we do unto our brethren, we do it unto the Lord.

3) The Hour of Truth - Silence opens the senses in our hearts to the world around us. One of our group members shared how he witnessed an old couple supported each other on their journey. Despite his old age, the old man was still lovingly supporting his wife with one hand, while he relied himself on a walking stick with the other hand. It wasn't stamina that brought him through, love did. Love allow us to see one another as gifts and not burdens. Our senses have also awaken us to the presence of God in the creation around us. Indeed, this silence has allowed us to see (& not look), and to listen (& not hear).

Silence is God's first language; everything else is a poor translation. In order to hear that language, we must learn to be still and to rest in God.

~ Thomas Keating quoted in The Sun & Moon Over Assisi by Gerard Thomas Straub