When You Say Nothing at All

Last week, I had the most profound juxtaposition.

Early in the week, I joined my friends and neighbors in a crowded board room. In silent opposition, we sat and listened to registered speakers as they opposed a proposed ICE detention center being built in the heart of our community. Quite literally “the Center of the Universe” with the property in question being in Ashland, VA.

Just a few short days later, I along with thousands of Richmonders, took to the  freezing cold streets to observe the Venerable Monks pass through on their way to Washington, DC. Holy men draped in orange and burgundy robes started a pilgrimage 2300 miles prior in San Antonio, TX. Without a lot of pomp and circumstance, they drew crowds of thousands with a simple message of peace. As their journey nears an end, thousands flock to see them pass in awe and reverance.

While these two experiences seem anchored by opposition– they share one thing in common– silent messaging moves mountains.

I wrote about hope last week being the one thing that sustains us in troubling times. However, as I think about both of these experiences, their common thread serves as a profound teacher.

In the last several months, the world seems topsy turvy with extreme rhetoric and violence. However, sitting in that board room, silently, and standing on that frigid street in Chester, silently, reminded me that sometimes silence is the loudest speaker in the room., click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.