Silence...

"We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls." 

Mother Teresa

But Mother Teresa also experienced another 'silence.' The silence of God. "The dark night of the soul." Read A History of Darkness. Is it painful! Sometimes we can only know the affection of our Father through this pain though. Then as we look to Christ crucified and risen, by this grace, we can touch souls in a more compassionate way.

 As the deer pants for streams of water,
   so my soul pants for you, my God.
 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
   When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food
   day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
   “Where is your God?”
These things I remember
   as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
   under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise
   among the festive throng.

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
   Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
   for I will yet praise him,
   my Savior and my God.....

Read more of Psalm 42 & 43