THOSE WHO SIT IN THE QUIET

By Philip Quirke

I

They sit in the quiet and listen. They imbibe the Divine Presence.

Then what is revealed is brought to bear on the world, for good.

                                    II

Outside the places of silence the world rages.

The newsfeed moves from one shocking event,

and from one celebrity irrelevance, to another.

Contemplation sifts the wheat from the chaff

on a threshing floor of silence and  humility,

and love for all people softens the hardened soul.

                                    III

They sit in the quiet and listen to God.

There is no presuming what God might say,

but the Divine undercurrent is always compassionate;

it understands the bruises of humanity

and thirsts for people to bring to the world

acceptance, healing and reconciliation.

                                    IV       

God’s desire for those who sit in contemplation

 is Enjoy Me!  said the mystic Teresa of Avila.

Worry not about the value of spending this time -

prayer from a sincere heart waters the most arid of deserts.                         

Sit in the quiet, breathe in the Divine presence

and on the out-breath, send God’s compassion to the world