Finding God in Silence

“I’ve always loved the quiet. I’ve always felt that God works in silence.”

When Alex, a participant from our online meditation group, shared those words, they came from deep personal experience—a journey shaped by faith, work in the healthcare sector, and a desire to live more fully in God’s presence.

He first encountered the contemplative tradition through his wife, whose own practice had been influenced by writers like Richard Rohr, Thomas Merton, and Thomas Keating. Her journey led them to a chance encounter with someone who had attended a retreat at Prinknash Abbey and gifted them a copy of Into the Silent Land.

From Striving to Surrender

Both Alex and his wife work in high-pressure roles within healthcare. “I look after medical students. It’s a deeply rewarding job, but also incredibly stressful. Often you bring that pressure home with you. Meditation has helped me release the ‘cares of this world’ in a way I’d never managed before.”

They now meditate together daily for about 20 minutes. “There’s a lovely chapel at work, and I try to sit there before my shift or on my lunch break. It shifts my inner state—from anxious towards calm. I’ve realised my thoughts are not reality. However charged they may be, I can now release them to Christ.”

The practice has become a steady part of my life. “It’s a source of nourishment. It grounds me. It helps me live in the now—and in that stillness, I encounter the living God.”

The Practice as Transformation

As a child living with the shadow of domestic violence, Alex often sensed God drawing near. That early experience of divine closeness returned through contemplative prayer. “It’s felt like the missing link for me. I’ve suffered with anxiety for years. But now, I am noticing that the thoughts don’t stick like they used to. They come, but they don’t stay. They lose their power.”

He describes the process like making consommé: “The impurities rise to the surface and are skimmed away. Six months ago, I would have brooded all night over something. Now I breathe, introduce the word, and the thoughts lose their grip.”

Self-Compassion and Loving Others

He acknowledges the challenge of self-compassion, especially in a high-stress environment. “I used to dread Mondays. Now I don’t. I believe God brings difficult people into our lives to help perfect us. The practice has helped me see them differently. I no longer let them steal my peace. I can love them instead.”

The fruit of compassion has begun to blossom outward. “I’m not driven by my anxious mind like I used to be. I feel like God is living through me more. My spirit—not my stress—is in the driver’s seat.”

A God Who Never Left

When asked if his understanding of God has changed, Alex’s answer is simple: “Yes. I used to run and hide when I made mistakes. Now I know I’m loved regardless. I’m not loved for what I do—I’m loved for who I am.” He also speaks of a deeper sense of connection with creation.

The Power of Teaching and Community

Alex speaks warmly of the teaching component of the group. “Chris’ sessions are simple, heartfelt, and grounded. You can tell he speaks from experience. It feels like I’ve jumped into a big swimming pool—I’m surrounded by grace.”

He appreciates the openness of the group and the care with which questions are handled. “Chris always brings it back to the heart of the Gospel. That gives me real confidence.”