The Gift of Quiet
If we’re honest, the word "quiet" can feel elusive—or even threatening—in a world that thrives on noise and speed. For ministry leaders, this is doubly true. Our lives are filled with voices clamoring for attention: sermons to prepare, congregants to counsel, programs to run, and a thousand other demands, all layered against the noise of a chaotic, divided world. It’s tempting to believe that in order to keep up, we must always stay busy, always reacting, always doing. But what if the most important thing we could do for our ministry—and for ourselves—is to stop? To embrace quiet not as a void, but as a profound and holy gift?
A Digital Detox for Advent: Rediscovering Presence in a Screen-Saturated World
As ministry leaders, we often find ourselves at the center of a paradox. We strive to create spaces of connection and reflection, yet we too are vulnerable to the relentless pull of screens and notifications. Our congregations and youth—perhaps even we ourselves—may be longing for a reprieve from the constant hum of digital distraction. What better time to embrace a digital detox than during the season of Advent, a season that calls us to quiet expectation, intentional preparation, and deep reflection?
Advent, the season of waiting for the Light of Christ, invites us to slow down, to make space for what truly matters. It is an ideal time to step away from the noise of the digital world and foster meaningful connections with God, one another, and ourselves.