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“Awkward silence” isn’t.
It’s painful, harrowing, dreadful, and sickening…but it’s not awkward.
A LIFE Group setting only compounds that feeling. Everything is quadrupled in silence. Sniffles, giggles, breathing, ….fears, hopes, doubts….the voice of God…maybe?
What scares me about silence? Why is it so uncomfortable? Why do we avoid it so much? Why does it seem to be so important in our journey to encounter Jesus? What keeps me from doing it?
Plus we are dealing with fasting - what do these two have in common? Why is fasting even on the list of “must” practices? What value does it bring?
As leaders, how can we utilize silence “for good, not evil”? Is there a place for silence in Life Group?
Lot’s of questions…not many answers.
1 response so far ↓
1 Wayne // Sep 6, 2005 at 12:10 pm
Silence is awesome! I probably SEEK silence more than not — even in group settings. I find that it isn’t the actual silence that makes things uncomfortable, it’s the unknown of the outcome of the silence–especially when the voice of God is speaking and you are listening!
I think that what keeps me from it are some of the same things that keep me from prayer — i.e., some of the same hindrances mentioned before.
Fasting — can’t wait to hear what you have to say on it — I think there is one aspect of fasting that very few people (self included) practice. What is that aspect? Well, let’s see if you touch on it first
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