Silence: Two Worlds Collide

I attended the Blue Ridge Writer’s Conference for the fourth time last May. I did not know if I would be released by my doctor because I had had a heart attack in January. When he gave me the green light to travel, I immediately wanted to be part of the Third Path Bible study led by Eva Marie Everson. Miracles happened and I was the last one to be accepted. God directed my writing path and everything changed. 

The class was gut-wrenching. Eva Marie posed hard questions every day. We journaled in silence, sometimes sharing, other times, listening intently. God spoke to each of us. I prayed, “What would you have me write?” I stayed in a state of anticipation. Throughout the week, I grew close to my study mates, one even praying with me on the last day, 

Find out what God is doing and get on board with that. 

I have kept that close to my heart over the last nine months. I celebrated one year of heart attack recovery. Now when I write, everything has changed. Often the writing goes on hold because I am busy presenting in schools, civic groups, and senior groups. God is using that too. I write for a magazine for senior citizens. The editor asked me to double up on my articles. 

On an ordinary day last week, the sky grew dark. The weatherman warned us to be prepared for power outages. We collected candles, flashlights, and a headlamp. The rain lashed against the windows making it impossible to see outside. We watched the news quietly when my mother’s words came back to me, “Be still, this is the Lord’s work.”

The power went out. 

The light from outside was enough that we could read so I gathered my stack of books. I have a habit of reading three or four at a time. There was no background noise, no football game, only wind. I picked up my copy of The Third Path and read, “How do you define silence?” It blew my mind.

It was like two worlds colliding.

The directive for the devotion to be silent was paired with true silence, something I am unfamiliar with. The house phone did not ring. Other than the wind and rain, I heard the ticking of a wind-up clock that hadn’t been used in years. There was no hum of my computer or social media.

I fretted about my wet clothes that sat still in the dryer. My refrigerator did not hum. My husband said, “Don’t open it, the food could spoil.”  No cars were going by and we could see that others were out of power. My hand was forced, I had to be silent. We prayed for friends and family. We prayed for power workers and tree cutters. 

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. 

Philippians 2:13

When the power came back on, we left the television off. After reading into the night, we turned in early. Silence; with plans to attend Blue Ridge again, my mission is clear. Listen, learn, and let God lead. 

Theresa Parker Pierce is a presenter, docent, and writer living in historic Salisbury, N.C. where she enjoys spending time with family and friends. Theresa likes storytelling about her childhood in eastern North Carolina and the history of Rowan County. She writes monthly for Senior Savvy magazine. She shares her volunteer time between the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer and the Rowan Museum in Salisbury. Theresa speaks in schools and to civic groups making use of the skills learned from Toastmasters.