I am a single woman, I do not have children, and I live by myself. I wake up to quiet and I go to sleep in quiet. I have access to all the quiet I need or want.
As a professional golfer I use to travel nearly 10 months out of the year. Today, traveling is still a large part of what I know, and I find myself on the road frequently for ministry and personal adventures. I am a quiet traveler. I can drive for hours in silence, and I am stealth at putting on a Do Not Disturb sign when settling into my seat on a plane.
Quiet is a part of who I am. My friends can attest to this God-given personality trait and I am quick to confess that I’m an introvert. (I have trained myself to covertly resemble an extravert when needed) I can also be with a crowd of people and create a quiet bubble around me. This is not always helpful or inviting, but it is true.
“Be Quiet” are ambivalent words for me. I need quiet to recharge and being quiet reminds me of the space in which I am alone. I long for it and it feels bad. I like being by myself and it can leave me feeling empty and sad.
As I wander into the deeper places of my heart and gain more understanding on how my childhood story of harm has left an imprint, quiet is taking on a new meaning. Instead of being quiet as a break to recharge from the chaos of the world around me, it is becoming an invitation to feel, be curious, grieve, and dream. Four elements in my life that were shut-down and felt dangerous for a long time.
Singleness affords me a large amount of flexibility in how I spend my time. Over the course of the last several months, I have been encouraged by a few friends to embrace the practice of being still and sitting in quiet. First, I had to recognize this is an active process compared to the passivity of shutting myself in behind a locked door.
As I ventured into this new practice of quietness, I quickly noticed how easily distracted I was. I struggled staying present, and my mind frequently drifted into my “to do” list.
Facebook was only a click away, and I justified the “really good” article I found to read. Five minutes of reading the Bible felt like an hour. A blank journal page stared at me thirsty for words. And most importantly, my body and heart struggled to find rest.
For someone who doesn’t have to search for time and space to be quiet, learning the difference between quiet and intentional quietness has been a process. I’m a professional at the first and a novice in the latter. My ability to be quiet has not always been kind to my inner world. It has served as an iron mask covering my fear to truly bless the goodness of who I am.
In my active moments of intentional quietness, I am settling into the contours of my heart, body, soul, and mind…giving myself permission to feel, ache, cry, and rest. Distractions still come and I am tempted to respond. But I can feel the heartbeat of Jesus gently wooing me back into the warmth of His quiet presence. It is a delightful place to be.
Tracy Hanson spent 15 seasons on the Ladies Professional Golf Tour. She is on a journey of embracing her beauty and living more deeply from her heart, and hopes to continue to share her story through full time ministry. Her hobbies include facilitating trips to the Holy Land, riding her motorcycle, the outdoors, and running. She also writes a monthly golf devotional on her website.
I love this Tracy and it’s good to see you here with us on Red Tent. I found myself joining you in several of your statements. We are alike in some new ways I learned as I read your words. You really got my attention with the difference between creating quiet as an introspective after being called to be gregarious, and quieting my heart in a deeper way to hear God calm and call out my heart. You invite me to more. Thanks. Valerie
Thank you Valerie…your words are a blessing.
Your words are honoring to both kinds of quiet – intentional quiet and stillness! I too enjoy and embrace the intentional quiet and worship. Thank you for opening the door to more connection with you.
Thank you Elaine for your words.
Dear Tracy, this is brilliant writing and you have me almost in a panic because you nailed it! I too like quiet and am always searching for quiet and when I find it…yep, the to do list panics me, And yes, Facebook is a click away, and so on. You have challenged me with your challenge. A sign of a good author. Thank you Tracy!
Becky your comment blesses me…thank you. 🙂
I smiled with eagerness when I saw your name in my inbox. 🙂 quietness as an intentional practice seems to only be sought when desperate around here. You have me wondering if a more regular encounter with it would be beneficial… To make space for feeling, curiosity, grieving, dreaming. Good words. Thank you, Tracy.
Timi…thank you my dear friend 🙂
With you in all of this, Tracy. I am alone lots and have been for years, but the intentional aloneness is a struggle. A struggle worth my time, I’m finding. Adelante! as we say in Spanish. Forward! And, by the you never fooled me. I know an introvert when I ‘hear’ one! Love to you this Monday.
Thank you…
YES! Intentional quiet requires so much more than the quiet that tends to come with the introverted life of a single woman…you give words to that which feels very familiar to me. “Fighting” the pull of Facebook, chores, to-do lists, and more to capture the moments of true quiet where I can be with the real contents of my soul and allow Jesus to be with me in them is work worth doing…yet still so challenging. Blessings to you as you carve out more time and create those places of intentional quiet!
Thank you…your words are an encouragement to me.