Landscapes of the Sacred Reflection 3- Jamie Englert

In Lane’s Landscapes of the Sacred, he takes a chapter to focus solely on spiritual themes among various Native American tribes. The fifth and final theme he examines is the act of silence as a key way to encounter the presence of God. He makes sure to differentiate between what we perceive as silence as and how the Native Americans view it. He states, “silence is by no means the stark ‘emptiness’ that modern communications media may seem to suggest” (91). This task of being silent is something that has to be learned and “only the one actively attuned to silence, so as discern its meanings, is likely to hear what is said in the middle of the night” (91). Being silent allows a person to submerge into stillness without the distractions of conversation or ranting.
Similarly, in the Bible, God speaks to Job and instructs him to do the same. “Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak” (Job 33:31). Job had been ranting for a while on his displeasure in being alive in his condition but was never quiet long enough to hear what God had to say in response. This is comparable to the theme that is found in the Native American tribes. Especially in today’s culture of hustle and bustle, very few have time to be alone and reflect. Routines, schedules and to-do lists all interfere. I think it is meant to be an acquired skill of slowing down your day and being in that moment in midst of the chaos.