Let God Speak in the Silence of a Power Outage

When was the last time the power went out? For me, it happened during the annual men’s conference. No joke. As we were getting adoration underway with music from a talented Irish tenor named Mark Forrest, the power just suddenly went out.

For those in the auditorium, it would have been a challenge to hear him read the readings or sing. At the same time, it was an opportunity to let God speak to us through the silence that surrounded us.

What stood out to me was the only thing that mattered more was the monstrance that was placed on the stage below a life-sized crucifix. There was no light but the candles. I can only imagine what it was like before electricity.

When I look back at this, I made a remark to Forrest that perhaps God wanted to speak through each attendee in the deafening silence of the auditorium. He agreed. What was also so moving was a priest was going aisle to aisle carrying the monstrance and blessing the people close to him. Some held out their hearts. No music but acapella singing from the tenor can be heard from the back well enough.

It also made me think of the words Cardinal Dolan said earlier in the day, “One of God’s languages is silence”. There was no doubt we heard his language during adoration. 

Every time we slow down and remain quiet, God will speak to us. As we’re about to embark on our 2nd full week of Lent, find time to let God speak in the silence around you.