The Offering Of Silence

Men are from Mars and women from Venus, or so a popular book told me. That may be true, but after twenty one years of marriage all I know is that I’m learning to talk far less and listen more. The mystery is in what type of silence is required for each situation. Not all silence is well received. Some silence is filled with the noise of bricks being cemented into vaulted ceilings of isolation. That silence can be deafening.

But there is another silence, warm and inviting, a soothing gift for anxious thoughts. A silence that says, “I trust your words.” Too often I bumbled into conversations smelling of diesel and instruction manuals, offering words heavily laced with testosterone and a side of pride. The smell overpowered the pleading whispers I needed to hear. What was required was dust and ashes.

This is true of my wife, yet even more so with God. In this, I’ve needed to stand humbly with Job.

Job sat amidst the ruins of tragedy with his wife’s advice still ringing in his ears. Then his friends arrived.

Friends: Job, bad things happen to bad people, and good things happen to good people.

Job: Well, that can’t be true, because I’m a good man, and bad things happened to me. I’m innocent, therefore, what’s happened to me is unjust.

Friends: Let us clarify. God punishes people who do bad things, and rewards those who do good things. You need to be honest and repent.

Job: I don’t think so. I want a second opinion. I’m going to go ask God.

God: Job, I’m God. Period.

Job: “I had heard reports about you, but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore, I reject my words and am sorry for them; I am dust and ashes.” Job 42:6

Maybe our offerings of worship would be best given in silence.