The Antiphons

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Daniel J. Miller

• antiphon from Medieval Latin antiphōna responsive singing < Greek ( tà ) antíphōna, neuter plural of antíphōnos sounding in answer • • in Roman Catholic liturgical music, chant melody and text sung before and after a psalm verse, originally Read more [...]

A Listening Heart

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Daniel J. Miller

In the silence, God invites and encourages us -- because courage is what it takes -- to be freely ourselves and to allow God to be freely God and not the prisoner of our inheritance, the product of our own private invention, or the possession of our presumption. Read more [...]

The White Horn of the Silent Music Truth

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Daniel J. Miller

“To know silence perfectly is to know music.” ~ Carl Sandberg [silence continued] Silence, while being true, is not the truth. The silence is like the white spathe of the calla lily from which emerges the yellow spadix of truth. The white horn Read more [...]

The Silence in the Cave of the Heart

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Daniel J. Miller

“Can you hear me now? Can you hear me now?” ~Verizon television commercial~ Being silent is not introversion. Nor is it simply a disposition or demeanor. It is not so much how we behave as how we have our being. It is the completely open and actively Read more [...]

Silence: An Experiment with Truth

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Daniel J. Miller

If we are to truly know ourselves, to accept ourselves, without fear of the darkness, and the turmoil within us, we need to cultivate the gift of silence. ~ Kenneth Leech Another image for silence is the milieu where we experiment with truth, to borrow Read more [...]

There is No Such Thing as Dead Silence

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Daniel J. Miller

I am interested in the fullest meaning of being silent. Not so much doing silence, but risking being undone by it. Sitting still in it, yes of course,. But if I’m honest also braving silence or wrestling with it until sweaty and exhausted I collapse Read more [...]

Is Silence Golden?

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Daniel J. Miller

We’ve all heard the adage “silence is golden,” but in and of itself silence is morally neutral. It is what we make of it or what it makes of us that determines whether it is helpful or anemic, healthy or harmful, enlivening or lethal. When prayer Read more [...]

Listen Loudly

Posted on October 27, 2012 by Daniel J. Miller

Sound is the voice of the Created. Silence is the voice of the Creator. Listen loudly. Speak in whispers. -~ author unknown Because our theme this year is LISTEN LOUDLY, it is necessarily a year of entering into the silence. Silence is not absolutely Read more [...]

Being Responsive

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Daniel J. Miller

“Responsiveness to God cannot be copied; it must be original with every soul.” ~ Evelyn Underhill The purpose of listening is to hear. The purpose of hearing is to receive. Sometimes, at the deepest level, the point of receiving what is heard is Read more [...]

Acoustic Theology, Antiphonal Spirituality

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Daniel J. Miller

This past Sunday I offered some reflections on what I call an acoustic theology. That is, an understanding of life and a way of living that recognizes the centrality of deep listening for an authentic, holistic, mature, and responsible spirituality. It Read more [...]

The Sacred Braid

Helping Persons and Communities Weave Lives of Spiritual Depth.