Dear Friend,

Cloud of Unknowing

Often we have written to you about Silence. Long ago, Nancy described Silence not as the absence of sound, but as the presence of God. How true! However, Silence is not filled with peace, love, and joy as commonly believed, for when we experience the Presence, our five senses and faculties such as thinking, feeling, and imagination are asleep. Remember, God is not a thought, feeling, or image to be held in us. Spirit is mystery and beyond sense, thought, feelings, and image.

When, through grace, we enter the Silence, we enter the "cloud of unknowing" spoken of by an anonymous English mystic of the 14th century. This consciousness is quite different from any earthly state of mind and heart. It seems impractical. What good could come of it? The answer is that it is more than good; it is Life itself! You see, this heavenly consciousness eventually has a direct and transformative impact upon us. The Silence eventually manifests itself as love, peace, joy, and much move.

Silence allows God’s work to be done. It is the key that opens the door, so Spirit can act in our lives and world. When an Inner Journey person prays, he or she does not come to these quiet moments with earthly desires or personal agendas. These have no place in a relationship with God. Such concerns anchor us to the world. They say we are just human beings when in truth, we are like the Creator; we are spirit.

Silence and Practicality

A Closer Walk With God, one of IJ’s books, outlines our practice of prayer, but in this letter we want to share with you how silence can become a part of our daily, earthly living.

1. Silence as preparation - Before any talk or prayer service that we conduct, we are still, listening and trusting. The resting in the quiet is an expression of our willingness to experience the Presence and to allow Spirit to have Its way with us. If there were a difficult meeting ahead, we would prepare for it in the usual earthly ways, but before we attend the meeting, we would be still. In this way, a consciousness of God unfolds and is present in the meeting. Silence is preparation for everyday living, for when we experience the Presence, God’s work can be done.

2. Silence as a blessing - I recall conducting the ordination of a minister and having the ordinand stand before the congregation in silence as the people showered love upon her. It was powerful. No words were spoken, and this lack of words allowed something special to rise up f om within everyone who was present.
So often we think we have to speak when there is great power in a silence that is simply the lack of words. This practice allows us to be sensitive to thoughts, feelings, and forces that are within. us Some will rise out of the deeper Silence that is an awareness of the Presence.

3. Silence as a healing balm - When a person is in the midst of a traumatic experience like an instances, the real healing agent is not we and our words but Silence, a consciousness of God. This awareness may manifest itself as words or action, but often the silent work of our oneness with Spirit is what is truly appreciated. We enter into these situations not to speak, but to be present, to be a soul turned Godward. This is healing for us and those we serve in these sacred moments.

4. Silence as an avenue of communication - Remember, Silence is without thought, feelings, or image, but it often manifests itself through one or more of these faculties. First, there is Silence, God-Consciousness, and then much, much more.
A friend of ours was sitting with a man who was dying. She sat in the Silence and out of her. oneness with God spoke to the man who was in a coma. Through the avenue that is the love of God, they communicated, and our friend sensed the moment of this man’s passing. With Silence as her beginning, she was a blessing to him as he entered another dimension of life.

5. Silence as a way of life - This is what we are really saying to you. Silence is destined to be . our way of life. In truth, since Silence is a consciousness of the Presence, there is no real life without it. We may exist, but there is no meaning and purpose until there is first a connection to Spirit. Then we come alive.
As you can see, Silence is the beginning of a powerful way of life. We believe it is humanity’s destiny to live this way. All things are possible when we are consciously one with the Presence. Not only does our human experience flow from this divine wellspring, but Spirit has a doorway through which to enter our lives and the lives of others. For this we were created and given the key - Silence!

In Love We Journey With You,

Jim and Nancy