a time to keep silent

Several things have been weighing on my mind lately. One is this maxim shared by Bill Gothard:

Time is a valuable asset which attracts many robbers.

A related thought was this from Horace Mann:

 

Lost yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes.  No reward is offered, for they are gone forever. 

Scripture says something similar when it tells us to "redeem the time, for the days are evil." (Eph 5:16) I have been stewing over the implications of all this and how time online - both reading AND writing - figured in.  I have spoken with women much wiser than myself about this.  Colleen's post asked many of the same questions I had. I have seen earnest rebuttals to these concerns, but to be truthful, they don't reassure me much about those lost diamond minutes.  Not right now. 

Then I read this description of St Rita of Cascia:

...instead of visiting or gossiping with the women of the neighborhood, she remained at home, never leaving it except to pay a visit to her aging parents or go to Mass or Vespers... She paid much attention to the comfort (of her husband) and took zealous care that his clothes were always scrupulously neat. The management of her household was wise and prudent, and she taught with example what she advocated with words.... For Rita knew well that all the beauty of the King's daughter is within. She was kind and affable (to all in her care) and studied to make them happy and contented....She saw that they attended their religious duties, taught them good and polite manners, and molded them into models of obedience, neatness and propriety. 

She was ever diligent, never idle, in her vocation. Can I honestly say I am as diligent? Can I honestly say time spent in conversations here are as effective as other things I could be doing right now? Is it ok to divide my attention so?

I thought of various reasons I have come online and when really pressed there doesn't seem to be much that sitting here could help.  Trouble with schoolwork?  Think of what 30 min a day reading just a step ahead of my kids in their books could do.  Fussy preschoolers?  They don't need more ideas, they need me at the table with a box of crayons.  Stress?  30 min more each day in quiet prayer would go a long, long way. And so the list went. 

For me, right now, it has become all too clear that more words and more screens are not the best direction I could be taking. There is indeed a time for everything under the heavens, a time for speaking and time to keep silent.  In fact there can't be much worth saying if it isn't borne out of regular periods of holy silence and contemplation.  This is such a time. 

So for now I am quieting myself in all the ways I can.  Fasting from excessive chatter, fasting my eyes, redeeming the time. I am sure the bustling cyber world will continue to revolve with or without me, but I did want to let those of you, who have become so dear to me here, know where I was in the meantime - starting lent early.

God bless you.

Prayer

Teach me to fix my eyes on the things of
heaven even as I walk each day with my feet
planted firmly on the earth. Help me, through
the practice of virtue and the pursuit of devo-
tion, to avoid anything that would otherwise
cause me to stumble in my attempt to follow
Christ and to be an instrument of the Holy
Spirit.

- from novena to St Francis de Sales

Comments

[megan Schmitt]

Your commentary will be missed..I so enjoy reading you...However, I fully understand the need to fast from screen time. I feel that it not only detracts from time spent with my children but time spent away from Christ. Silence in this day and age is a wonderful blessing...I recently read Teresa Tomeos book NOISE and it dawned on me that noise comes in so many many forms...but my children are NOT noise...they are wonderful blessings that should be given treatment as such...not a passing glance. Thank you! God Bless you and your family! Megan

[Sue]

Thank you for letting us know where you are. These are wise, wise words that really spoke to my heart. Much to contemplate.

[Barb]

ah Kim, just what I have been dealing with as of late. I think I may take up that same call to silence and of attending to what God has given to me, not to the world of cyber-space.

[Jennifer]

Kim, I will miss you, but have to say this post spoke deeply to me. I, too, think I am going to take a fast. Prayer has once again become something I put to the side because I am "busy", but am I too busy because I am not praying? That's the question. Wonderful quotes, and I will be praying for you while you are gone, hoping that you find Who you need.

[Laura]

Kim,
Thanks for this. It must be that season "there is a time for..." in many of our lives as I have been pondering the same thoughts myself. So much of my time is wasted in the researching of instead of the actual doing!
May God Bless you on your fast.
Laura in Va.

[Donna Marie]

This is so beautiful Kim...I will surely miss you! You have been such a blessing to me...thank you for sharing with us the kindness of your heart! God love you and your dear family!!
{{{{HUGS}}}}

[Cheryl]

Good for you, Kim! You have always given me good things to think about. Take care.

[Lisa]

God bless you, Kim! What a wise and courageous example you're setting. You're forcing me to contemplate the possibilities... (Doggone you, anyway! &:o)

[Wendy in VA]

You are a wise, wise woman. May you have a blessed blog fast!

[Rebecca]

Sorry I hit a button by accident on my keyboard and it said I already posted. ;o)

Your post was really awesome, just what I needed to hear. I was feeling awfully blue and cumbered... Like Martha. When I read your post, it occurred to me that there are more ways to be a Mary than to sit at Jesus' feet in prayer, maybe sitting at His feet is also sitting on the floor to play?

Such a timely post. Thanks so very much!

Rebecca ~Mom to 8 under 11!

[KC]

I'll miss you. Will keep you in my prayers.

[Vicki]

I'll miss your wonderful well-written posts and fabulous photographs. I'm passing on a blogging friend award to you because I feel that I know you so well. Happy times.

[Kalona]

I have very much enjoyed reading your blog, but totally understand your reasoning. Sometimes we need to slow down and quiet our lives. God bless you and your family. I've passed on an award to your blog. I'm sure others will love reading what you've already shared.

[Candice Hopper-Owrey]

I'll miss you while you are gone.

[sara kay]

Miss your "voice!"

[shelly]

enjoy your time... i know your children will :)

God bless you!

[KellyJ]

Kim, I don't know when, if ever, you will see this, but I thank God for your quieting yourself, for putting those words into action. I've read others' words on wanting to step away, but, you, you are doing it. That's so much more powerful. I miss your beautiful posts, but you are doing the right thing.

[Ranch for Sale]

Those are some awesome quotes. I need to start keeping another quote book.

[Rebecca]

I must confess I was hoping that you would reappear after Easter. I hope you are well. I miss your insightful posts.