Tuesday Tidings, May 5, 2026

Dearest Members of Bethlehem,

“But the Lord in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.” -Habakkuk 2:20    

I’ve heard folks say that “we,” I am assuming they mean Lutheran Christians, “aren’t good at silence.”  I can kind of see how that critique might be legitimate, but I would beg to differ just a bit.

I mean seriously, have you ever been on the receiving end of the “silent treatment?”

In these particular instances I would say that some folks are very much adept at being silent, they can remain silent for quite some time!  But we all know that this is a punitive form of silence, meant to express displeasure.  You can personally decide on the effectiveness of such a measure, I for one am terrible at it.

And then, there’s what I would call the silence of deference.

On these occasions we are silent to show our respect; perhaps we have found ourselves in the heart of a library where others need to concentrate.  We are silent when an elder is sharing some wisdom, or the choir is singing an uplifting prelude prior to worship.  Once again, I would suggest that we can be quite adept at the silence of deference.

But then, there is this other form of silence… a silence that is much more spiritual, and I would call that the silence of prayerful expectation.

Consistently attending to this silence is no small feat; it takes practice and intention.  This form of silence also necessitates patience.  We are waiting, quietly, with open hearts and minds for the Spirit to move, for a message of clarification, consolation, or direction.

Astonishingly, those who have given this a whirl will know that there’s almost always a message to receive, something to hear.  Listen, intently… and you will hear the heating system clanking in the background, you will hear a siren in the distance.  And even if those types of sounds aren’t manifest, listen closely enough, and you will hear the beating of your own heart.  Are these distractions to be tuned out, or disregarded?  I don’t think so.

With each subtle thump, we are blessed with a pleasant reminder that God is sustaining us; that we have a heart for the Divine and neighbor, and that Love is reverberating in and through everything that matters.           

Question for reflection: How comfortable are you with silence?  How long could you sit with a friend or loved one and never say a word, yet all the while knowing that in that silence everything necessary is still being shared?

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Dan

God of mercy, amid the busy rush of life, amid the demands and expectations, amid the cacophony of conversations; bless us with moments of stillness and peace in which we might discover your love and grace, and finally the assurance that can only come from realizing that we are eternally beloved.  In Christ’s name we pray, amen.