Submerge: Enter The Sanctuary Of Silence
We often think of sanctuaries as sacred buildings adorned with stained glass, but sanctuaries are any place we can retreat for refuge and renewal. Any space that speaks to our souls and places us in a posture of reverence can be a sanctuary.
There may be no better sanctuary than the water. There is something about swimming out in solitude and slipping under the surface to one of the last places on earth that cannot be touched by technology or even talking. The underwater world offers stillness and silence completely devoid of distractions. It’s a place where lungs may need to hold their breath, but souls are able to take deep breathes of renewal.
Submerge for Solitude
As much as I’d love to have waterfront property, my limited access to water makes each swim all the more special. I must set aside time to reach the water, and as I travel I prepare my heart to connect to God in solitude. Each step I take to remove myself from the world is another step toward soul renewal.
Luke noted that Jesus would often wander off on his own to connect to his father in solitude (Luke 5:16 NKJV). Mark remembered Jesus encouraging his disciples to make time for rest, even when their schedules were full (Mark 6:31-32 NKJV).
Since Jesus often preached near water, I wonder if he ever slipped around a bend after sharing good news to walk the shoreline until he could no longer hear strains of conversations from the crowd. I wonder if he then entered the water to refresh his body and recreate a baptism of sorts to renew his soul.
If Jesus identified a need to step away from the world, connect with the spirit inside him and let his Father’s love wash over him, how much more do we need to submerge in solitude? Our energy leaks daily to careers and commutes and chores, requiring us to retreat in solitude to replenish our souls.
Because a mountain top may be a place to see with fresh perspective, but water is the perfect space for solitude.
Stepping into the water, we commit to being in one place, in the present. We can’t multitask in the water and must sink into the moment. We take nothing with us but our steady breath and even our breath must adapt to the aquatic world. In the water, our souls can be filled to the brim with love.
Submerge for Silence
In the morning, water is almost always still. Some days the glass surface of the water invites me to skate across in smooth strokes; some days the still water inspires me to smooth the wrinkles in my heart to match the stillness.
My heart gets stuck in the ruts I wear down in my mind by thinking the same thoughts over and over, spinning with the same processing pattern. With so much noise in my head, my heart can’t hear a beat to follow. Contemplation can create new ideas and creativity, but spiraling thoughts keep me trapped on the same dead end track.
We need to still our hearts and minds.
The stillness of water is a space for silence in a noisy world. Waves and waterfalls may continually sing of water’s flow, but water itself is unspeaking. Submerge underwater, and you enter a quiet place. The silence we experience underwater can teach us about silencing our minds.
According to the science of underwater acoustics, our ears can hear higher frequencies better while lower frequencies get muted. We need to train our minds to submerge and mute the noise of the world around us, including our own running dialogues and inner chatter. When our mind is silenced, we are better able to hear the higher voice of God.
David wrote of silencing his anxious mind, likely retreating to solitude to create space to hear from God.
“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him” -Psalm 62:3 ESV
Like David, we patiently wait and pray in earnest, pouring out our hearts before him (Psalm 62:8 NKJV) He will speak, making himself clear, with power, and more importantly, love.
“Once God has spoken, twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love…” -Psalm 62:11-12 ESV
Hearing, and feeling God’s power, David wrote of seeking God with a thirsty soul. He had experienced God and wanted more of God’s wonder in his life.
“So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.” -Psalm 63:2 ESV
The more we seek out solitude, carving out time to submerge in a space that feels like a sanctuary for the soul, the more we hear from God in the silence.
We will emerge renewed and soul reborn.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Grace is a writer based in coastal Georgia. She invites readers to explore and wonder about the goodness of God and make their own faith discoveries. Her husband and cats cheer her on, swimming is her escape and cheese is her fuel.