Reflection

Starting at the beginning of Nutrition 120.W7, I have participated in the practice of presence. The experience of the practice of presence requires you to set aside approximately 5 minutes of time to sit in silence. In this essay I will be sharing with you what I noticed during the development period of beginning the habit of silence. I will also share with you my difficulties, what I have learned about myself, and my experience with God in the practice of silence.

First, as I have started to develop the habit of practicing silence, I have chosen different times to practice silence. I practice in the morning, sometimes during my lunch time, and then in the evening before I go to sleep. When I practice silence and the practice of presence in the morning, I read a devotional, pray to have a good day and protection for those I love and care for. During my lunchtime, I will stay in silence and read something positive and sit in silence. Before I go to sleep, I usually read the Bible, and I pray. Also, I am imagining a sparkly light beginning at my feet and slowly working this light into my head and moving it up into the sky, in my imagination. During this time, it’s interesting because when I imagine this light, there are areas where I feel fine and then the light stops in areas where I may have pain or feel or have felt hurt in the past. Lately, I have begun to really work on what I can do to heal in those areas where I feel like I am needing, where this light does not feel warm, or where the light stops. I have noticed. I have noticed during this time; I am content and happy in silence. Sometimes nothing needs to be said, and all we really need is silence. Then I can work on hearing what God must speak to me. “A woman should learn in quietness and full submission” (1 Timothy 2:11).

Difficulties I have had in the practice of presence, is omitting hurt in my mind or heart I am feeling. Trying to specifically find what it is blocking me from feeling Gods unconditional love. What I have learned about myself reflecting on the practicing of silence is I love quiet time. I have moments where I remember when my kids were little and how much joy they gave me with all their milestone moments.

In the context of the practice of presence, I feel tugs at my heart. It is not just an emotional, spiritual state of being. Physically I feel in my head and heart and use these feelings I receive in my head and heart as tools to navigate why I’m hurting or thinking a certain way.

Experiencing God within, the full practice of presence begins to send messages to my heart and mind, that I need to always practice the presence of silence so I can hear and feel what God wants to let me know. And only then I as I continuously ask for this silence and God’s presence in my life, others will be able to see His work in me. This takes time and more than likely a lifetime.