Contemplación - En el silencio del corazón – Envers le silence du Coeur
In the Lord’s deep silence (ii)
Many years ago, when we were deep in the Lord’s presence in one of our prayer and worship conferences, Richard Williamson played this beautiful improvisation, which we have transcribed and recorded here. Julian Chan plays it for us here supported by James Horsfall on keyboard, and Julia Herzog, accompanied by words that came to me a few years ago as I was sitting and praying on the Malvern Hills.
Be silent on your bed and commune with the Lord. (cf Psalm 4:4)
Come My son, My daughter:
enter fresh depths of silence with Me,
your heart entwined with Mine.
Enter in and stay awhile
until the kindness of My presence percolates through –
and you can seek and find and sense and know.
Let Me escort you through the arch into My inmost court;
where I delight to expand your inner sight,
your whole heart aglow to listen,
as I fine tune your seeing and your hearing,
your senses a faithful lens to grasp and mirror My perspectives.
For it is here that you will find great freedom
in this communion that is the union of our hearts.
Lord, since I am by Your call and for Your purpose,
I will let no distraction dissuade me from this firm resolve
to keep my heart fixed on You, and free from lesser things.
For this is freedom, and this is faith,
and this is rapture rolled in one.
As Your Spirit subdues and tempers the strivings in my heart,
the softness of Your wind soughing through my spirit
bids me not to stray but rather to stay and listen more.
For You are empowering me to attain the spirit of prayer.
You’ve knit my heart with Yours,
and to the hearts of companions pledged to walk this hallowed path with me.
So I step aside from all the striving;
and bide in this less travelled way,
carrying the blessing of this silence to those in need of head space;
for Your silent touch and holy footfall
bring grace beyond the need for words
And I will enter in and rest while in You –
And You will come to me.