Was it productive?

"So, was it productive?" was the well-meaning question I heard often when I returned home from a silent retreat last summer. I didn't quite know how to respond. Was being productive the goal? Or was it something quite different?

I remember when my children were exuberant toddlers and constantly on the go. I loved them beyond words, but the truth is that keeping up with them was exhausting! Every now and then, though, they would actually slow down, snuggle up in my arms, and rest. Those were precious, sacred moments indeed.

I wonder if God sees us as exuberant toddlers constantly on the go? Loving us beyond words but longing for us to slow down enough to be held in God's arms, and rest. I can only imagine that God would delight in our undivided attention for those precious, sacred moments.

How easy it is to get caught up in the exuberant "doing" and loose sight of the simple "being." Sacred silence helps me regain my eyesight; to reconnect, remember and restore my relationship with God.

Sacred silence comes in all shapes and sizes and need not be a concentrated time of retreat set apart from daily life; although that can be a wonderful opportunity from time to time! You might simply start by setting your phone timer for just a minute (or a few). Take slow, deep breaths. When the "squirrel brain" distractions begin, gently speak a single sacred word (like reconnect, remember or restore) to help reclaim the silence for a few precious, sacred moments.

So, perhaps the goal of sacred silence is not that it is productive, but rather that it is restorative - a sacred opportunity to climb gently into God's loving arms and be restored.

“Are you tired? Worn out?

Burned out on religion? Come to me.

Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.

I’ll show you how to take a real rest.

Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.

I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.

Keep company with me and

you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)