A Moment of Silence

Tommy Han

Silence filled the air as seniors stayed rooted to their spots. The only sound that could be heard was the occasional cries of a bird. Outside, the waves came crashing onto the beach as the trees swayed slightly back and forth from the winds. Bible class has never been this quiet; no one dared utter a single word.

Mrs. Allen’s senior Bible class gathered in Jaffrey dorm during class time for the entire week for silent time. Unlike the traditional class in which the students listened to the teacher discuss Christianity, the week would be free for students to do what they wished; however, the students had to be silent and try to engage with his/her thoughts or God in the absence of technology. Students could choose from a menu of activities provided by Mrs. Allen. They could draw the scenery, run up Pearl Hill, read the Bible, reflect on the week, or even remain silent for the 45-minute period. The goal of the experiment was to free ourselves from the distraction of noise and dedicate the time to thinking about our relationship with God.

During the first day of silence, students seemed awkward in the new environment. They struggled to do nothing, and their eyes wandered from place to place. They endeavored to adapt to the new situation, as they continuously worked to occupy their times with things to do. Some students chose to write in their journals while others drew the exquisite scenery of the ocean just outside of the school. Students also went outside to experience the nature firsthand, feeling the cool breeze and listening to the waves crash onto the sands. Personally, I decided to stay inside and just reflect upon my life as some others did. Away from all the work and commitments in school, students learned to enjoy the silence.

As days progressed, seniors began to find the joy of silent time in Bible. Their posture showed relaxation as their faces often showed emotions of peace and comfort. They were realizing the secret to transforming the silence into meaningful actions and thoughts. One task that all students were required to complete was writing about their personal desires. They could either write about their needs to Jesus or just about their desires for the year.

“It was a much needed time to reflect on a lot of things. As a senior, I could think about what I want for my future. I was able to transfer my desires onto the paper,” responded Chan Woong Won.

After writing out the desires, students carefully folded the paper, placed it into an envelope, and stapled it into the journals to read at graduation.

Overall, the silent time allowed students to take a break from college applications and school. Although awkward at first, students progressed to enjoy the essence of the activity. They will certainly remember this in May, opening the envelope to read the desires for the year to see if they have been met.