“Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom.” Francis Bacon
Haiku: The Power of Silence…
Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence,
and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content. Helen Keller
A meditation…
There will be no open doors
‘Til man loves peace more…
“Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence.” Leonardo da Vinci
Haiku: The Power of Silence…
From silence you come, to silence you go.
Enter your inner space and know where you come from. The eternal silence awaits you with endless patience. Unknown
In the silence, Truth
We stand naked with our thoughts
Wisely fed soul food…
Take some time to observe silence this year… to sit and meditate. We constantly rush around meeting deadlines, doing chores, completing tasks… Stop. Turn down the noise and speedometer… Silence. More below!
“In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
Haiku: Silence…
I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Elie Wiesel
She smiled, hate filled eyes
Filthy words flew by… N*&%$r!
I cringed, said nothing…
The first time a dorm mate called me that name, I was left speechless. Here I was, at a fancy school, surrounded by supposedly educated people and … such behavior? As Oliver Herford said, “A man is known by the silence he keeps.” For me to say nothing was a sign of weakness, of allowing a bully to gain the upper hand, and it ate at me for a long time.
“To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men.” Abraham Lincoln
Haiku: Silence…
Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
A dorm mate stood by
Silenced by the rage, spewing
Black, White, all the same…
Sometimes people stand by because they are equally flabbergasted. I chose to believe the dorm mate said nothing because she was shocked too. She said nothing… I said nothing… But not forever. More below!
“Let us be silent, that we may hear the whispers of the gods.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Inspiration: When Words Fail… seeking silence within… for Norway, China, Amy and more..
From time to time, events occur that remind us of both the frailty of life and of man’s violence against his fellow man. The events that took place in Norway; the tragic bombings and shootings that took place a couple of days ago have left us all saddened and shocked. We wonder how anyone can find that depth of rage within and then act on it by choosing to annihilate innocent bystanders. We wonder why and, in our attempt to make sense of it all, we find that words fail us. Acts like this one, and others before it, bring to the fore the senselessness of myopic beliefs that parade as truth.
When zealotry replaces compassion and common sense, it is time to seek the silence and wisdom that comes from tuning within for answers. We mourn when lives are lost; particularly when young lives are cut down before their time… We grieve for their loved ones, for the loss of their contributions and talents to the community, and for the reminder of our own mortality… Amy Winehouse lost her battle today and we also grieve the loss of this talented, tender soul…
“Music and silence combine strongly because music is done with silence, and silence is full of music.” Marcel Marceau
When words fail, it is time to be silent, to shed our tears, to say a prayer, and then go to that place inside; the well of infinite wisdom. There are many families hurting and many lives lost; innocent lives that remind us that somehow, somewhere, we as a global community failed not just with words but with our collective actions… What will it take to appreciate and cherish the human bond we share? What will it take to find common ground where those who feel voiceless can be heard and those who claim to have the answers can share a platform in search of peace?
Call me naive, but I still believe there is good in humanity and that we can transcend our collective histories of petty hatreds and oppression. But, it must begin with reflection; tuning into that silent place that resides in every human heart, a place that never lies. It is the place we seek when life’s challenges become too much, when we feel we’ve reached the edge or the precipice of our understanding. Perhaps, we can begin there and find our way back to center with comforting words followed by loving actions. Consistent action… What do you think? More below
