Today is the last day of my Silent Retreat and I am about to reenter the world, starting with what will be chaotic Board meeting.  I will remember the experiences and the silence of the last few days.  As Andy Otto cites in his outstanding Ignatian Spirituality blog, “God in All Things“:

“Silence ‘is difficult, not only because in silence does the Spirit surface, but also my past surfaces in silence, especially the unresolved areas.’  This mixture of God’s presence with one’s own history can prove to be an uncomfortable challenge. Some of the thoughts and emotions which tend to surface during these periods are things which can be categorized as ‘the things I can’t tell myself.’ For example, the truth that one is lonely, afraid, or angry. These and other items which one has ‘pushed to the background begin to surface as one descends into silence. . . Silence can be a great spiritual practice, revealing things in one’s own heart, spirituality, and relationships.  (Andy Otto, quoting Una Agnew where designated).

You can find more on Andy Otto’s reflections on the Beauty of Silence on his wonderful blog on Ignatian Spirituality, “God In All Things“.