Shush

One word...
"Shush"
One word was all it took to bring me a smile.
I have been on a semi-silent retreat at my sisters cabin.  I say semi-silent because being silent is not something I am good at.  I have my phone with me and have made regular calls to my husband, son and daughter.  But the purpose, or my hope, in this little excursion was to hear God's voice.  So far all I can hear is my own.
On Sunday I snuck away to a cafe with internet to catch up on some of my social media vices. I hopped on my facebook and messaged a few people.  Most of my corispondance was rambling and chatty since I have been out of contact for a while.  I messaged a priest friend of mine whom I have known for years and rambled on about my silent retreat and the Church up north that I went to Mass at and the retreat center that is up here but I am not staying at and how it woud be a great place for a retreat and... Well, you get the picture.  You can almost imagine that my fingers were out of breath.

On a Sunday morning I was surprised that my priest friend replied.
He replied with one word.
"Shush"
Not hush like a mother would say but shush like a Father reminding his children and redirecting their attention.
The shush brought me a smile.  For one, it was a reminder to redirect my thoughts to God but later that day I reflected on how it made me feel.

The shush brought me a smile because this priest  knows me well and knew that I needed  that gentle reminder  to quiet  myself considering my extrovert personality.    It also brought my heart a  moment of joy to think that this busy  priest  held me in his thoughts for a moment on a busy Sunday morning.  
I get these same moments of joy when my husband  sends me a text telling me he is thinking of me or a friend remembers  a special day.
So if this brought me a moment of joy, why am I having so  much trouble feeing the joy of knowing that God holds me in his thoughts always? God knows me and my heart better than anyone.
What was keeping me from hearing God's voice? Feeling God's love?

"Shush"

Am I not praying well enough? Is their something I am missing? Has God forgotten me?

"Shush!"

and listen...

Lent is a time for Shush... As we head into this last week before Easter, prepare your hearts and quiet your soul and "Shush" to hear God's voice.

We just need to listen.