When Silence Speaks

FSY Training: Day Two 6/2/22

Obviously it is past “day two” of FSY training because that was on June 2nd. However, I took notes for this post and had the inspiration to write this post on that day, so that’s why the “FSY Training: Day …” is up there. It will continue to be up there for the rest of the summer for each week and day that I come up with a blog post idea.

I hope that makes sense. 😊

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I don’t think silence really ever exists. Not true silence. The silence that is uncomfortable and stale. The silence that is piercing and apparent.

Luckily, there is power in implied silence.

The silence where you can still hear the hum of the AC working or the sounds of birds chirping. The silence of inhales and exhales from the person next to you. The silence of tears running down a face. The silence of thoughts bouncing around in one’s head.

Even the silence of your own beating heart.

Silence has its place in this life, and since it is uncommon in groups of people, it wields power.

*cue tangent*

I loved to watch Dancing With The Stars with my family when I was younger.

I enjoyed watching the contestants dance, learning more about the stars (the celebrities), and spending time with my family.

In 2016, history was made as Nyles DiMarco joined the show. A male model…that was completely deaf.

To this day, I have no idea how he danced so well without being able to hear the music. Hear the tempo or the beats. Associate the choreography with the words.

But he did it…and won! 😲

One of Nyles and Peta’s (his partner) dances was another history maker: a dance with a moment of complete silence.

It made one of the judges cry and the other two simply astonished and taken aback.

This moment of silence allowed viewers from all over to experience just a brief few seconds of Nyle’s personal experience. His life’s normal.

It was phenomenal.

It is probably why I still remember it and thought of it today while pondering “silence.”

https://youtu.be/x7awnJAVSOo

The link of the dance is right above. 😋

This goes to show that there is power in silence. That although no one says an audible word, the silence speaks.

And sometimes, when you listen, you can hear it.

And it’s magical.

And it’s profound.

Our session director last week discussed the power of silence and encouraged us (the counselors in training) to learn and know when silence is power.

That it’s okay (it’s actually encouraged!) to ask a question and let the youth ponder it. Let them search their soul. Let them open their hearts and allow the spirit to speak to them.

Speak for me.

He talked about creating the moment and then GETTING OUT OF THE WAY!

He shared a story about a moment he had with young men. He created the moment where the spirit was present, and then he closed his mouth.

The silence was interrupted as a SLAP pierced the room. A young man put his handbook down on the table and then his knees hit the floor.

He started praying.

Silence once again took the room until another handbook hit the table and more knees hit the floor.

Over the next few minutes, each young man had put his handbook down and then knelt to pray.

The silence left room for the spirit to touch the heart of the young men and encourage them to pray.

And their lives were changed that day.

Their hearts touched.

I’ve pondered this idea of silence and wondered how I can apply it in my daily life to allow it to change me. Allow it to speak to me.

I want to get used to silence…and watch it take hold of the lives of these youth and speak to them.

And when it speaks to them, I can’t wait to be there and see.