Silence and comfort

from Frederick Buechner:

What deadens us most to God's presence within us, I think, is the inner dialogue that we are continually engaged in with ourselves, the endless chatter of human thought. I suspect that there is nothing more crucial to true spiritual comfort, than being able from time to time to stop the chatter, including the chatter of spoken prayer. If we choose to seek the silence of the holy place, or to open ourselves to its seeking, I think there is no surer way than by keeping silent.

from Psalm 131:
O Lord, my heart is not lifted up,
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and marvelous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
Like a child is quieted at its mother's breast,
like a child that is quieted is my soul.
O, Israel, hope in the Lord
from this time forth and for evermore.

Jana