The Silence that isn’t Golden

It’s been a bit silent on this website this year!

There’s a number of reasons for my lack of writing – at least public writing!! My journal is full, but none of that has made it to here – yet!

But today – as I sit here, quietly listening to the rain and to my worship music playlist in the background – my heart is challenged and my spirit stirred to write again.

To break my silence and share what I sense my Father God has put on my heart.

Actually, I wrote this in my journal back in May, but somehow I never quite got to finishing it or typing it up! Perhaps due to a little lack of courage on my part – not wanting to offend anyone, not wanting to rock the boat.

But maybe that is exactly what, as followers of Christ Jesus, we are meant to do! We are meant to rock the boat of this world, not in a way that condemns and judges, but rather one that, with words of grace, challenges what needs to be changed.

And so, I bring this to you my dear readers. Again, not in any way to condemn – but to challenge, as I am being challenged – to not be silent when we need to speak out the heart of God over this wounded, hurting world that we live in.

In Proverbs 31 vs 8 and 9, we read: “Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out; judge righteously; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Silence.

Silence can be golden!

Silence can be life giving; the silence of an early morning, that soothes my soul and allows me to breathe in the gentle presence of my God. Silence that is life giving and sweet to the ears of my heart.

But there is also a silence that is not golden , nor life giving.

A silence that echos with the cries of this hurting world.

The silence of governments, of those with the power – but not the will – to defend the rights of the poor and needy. The silence that merely emboldens and gives voice to the quest for destruction, greed and power.

The silence of too many of us, as God’s community of people around the world, silenced, perhaps, through fear of being misunderstood or condemned by our words. Or perhaps feeling like we are simply whispering into a tempest and can make no difference.

My silence – my fear of offending others – that shouts acquiescence to those who oppress the ones who have no voice.

For theirs are the voices that cry out the loudest in this wilderness and darkness of silence.

Voices of the hungry, oppressed and displaced. Voices of those crying out to be heard – crying out for justice, for peace, for the chance to simply live.

Is that really too much to ask? Is it too hard to decide to break our silence? To cease turning the other way, pretending that it is not our business? To opt for ease, while lives and countries are destroyed.

As I read your Word Lord, it is overflowing with your heart for the poor, the oppressed and the needy. For the displaced, the foreigners in our lands, for the widows and orphans.

For these are all people made in your image and loved by You, El-Roi – the God who sees.

The God who sees, and who grieves for the injustices that condemn these people to hopelessness and death.

The God who sees, and who pleads for, and intercedes on their behalf.

Pleas that fall into this dark void of silence, where they go unheard and untended, even by us, His children; By me – His child.

Our silence is not Golden. It is not the silence that allows us to breathe and live. It is the silence of death, not just to this hurting world, but to our own souls.

And into this silence Lord, I hear your voice once again. The Voice that once called to the ancient prophet Isaiah to speak out your words of justice, life and hope to his world.

This same voice calls to us – to me: “Who will I send, and who will go for me? Who will stand and shout out words of life into this deathly silence? Who will jump into the dark void and be a voice of hope to this dying world?”*¹

And with this, I close my eyes, bow my head, lift my hands and reply: “Hineni Lord – Here I am.*²

“Let me be your voice and not be afraid to speak into the silence. Let my heart break with what breaks yours. Then help me to channel that heart into holy words and actions that will declare life and hope into the darkness.

“For Your Name oh Lord, is the Name above all names. It is the name that breathes life, restored hope, renews dreams. The Name that resounds with grace and forgiveness, reconciliation and healing. The Name that is all and over all.

And I choose to break my silence, and shout Your Name to this dying, hurting world.

Hineni Lord – Here I am.”

Why not take a cup of your favourite brew and spend some time in silence before God, acknowledge His presence and love and grace – and listen to what He might be asking you to speak into the silence on His behalf for this hurting world around us.

*1. Paraphrase from Isaiah Chapter 6. *2. Hineni is the Hebrew word for “here I am”