tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588328928227524790.post8787373476450583801..comments2023-07-09T19:59:16.047+01:00Comments on Journeys of heart and mind: Miriam and YosephChris Jefferieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024046243018838005noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588328928227524790.post-75952197720070111502013-04-09T14:35:43.740+01:002013-04-09T14:35:43.740+01:00Hi Chris, thanks for the comment.I've seen the...Hi Chris, thanks for the comment.<br><br>I've seen the same frustration with waiting many times in different groups of people over the years. I'm also very familiar with meetings where there is space and silence has stopped been a problem.<br><br>It's mostly down to expectations, I think. With a background in institutional church people inevitably expect a meeting to be busy and filled with activity. A silence is not seen as an opportunity so much as a failure to fill the silence. Everyone feels edgy and jumpy and uncomfortable.<br><br>The solution is for everyone to give themselves permission to accept, even enjoy, the silence. It will take time before it becomes the new normal, but the jumpiness and frustration will die away slowly.<br><br>Then the silence starts to be pregnant, and the Spirit begins to speak into hearts during silence, and people share what they are seeing and hearing and out of it comes his sheer awesomeness :-)<br><br>Once that begins to happen, everyone is hungry for the silence! It becomes a place of blessing and new beginning.<br><br>You could try explaining that so that everyone feels hopeful and expectant.<br><br>If you think it would be helpful I'd be very happy to come along some time. Not as any kind of leader (perish the thought), but I could be there as a grateful visitor to simply be part of the group on that day. Drop me a line (chris@scilla.org.uk) if you want to discuss it further.<br><br>Grace and peace,<br><br>ChrisChrishttp://blog.scilla.org.uk/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7588328928227524790.post-72364290622374099632013-04-09T11:49:41.055+01:002013-04-09T11:49:41.055+01:00Just answering the last question, really, Chris. ...Just answering the last question, really, Chris. My experience has been there's a great deal of frustration with truly patiently waiting on God to instruct us. So it's not unusual for me or the group I've been in to make something up to keep us active and occupied. Problem with that has been it's meant we've actually strayed from what god eventually wanted us to do, which we would have keyed in on had we remained patient. That's also linked to a method of community where we're open to God showing us what He wants from any member of the group, not just assuming the top dog must have all the answers and until he says it's of God we remain in brake-mode.Christopher Drydennoreply@blogger.com