On this episode of The Inner Life, Patrick Conley teamed up with Fr. Eric Nielsen to chat about silence: how to find it, embrace it, and let it deepen your relationship with God. Father Eric, associate pastor at All Saints Parish in Berlin, WI, shared his wisdom on tuning out the noise (both literal and mental) and making space for God.

Here are the highlights from their convo. Check out the whole hour here!

🌟 Why Advent is Perfect for Silence

Advent = prime time to chill out. It’s like the liturgical version of “cozy season.” Think: shorter days, long nights, and the chance to slow down.

Father Eric suggested embracing the stillness of Advent by delaying the Christmas parties (yes, even the ugly sweater ones) and leaning into the quiet.

Silence isn’t just the absence of noise; it’s the space where God’s voice becomes louder. 🔇✨

🛠️ Balancing Ambition, Prayer, and Fun (for Busy Folks)

John from LA called in with two big questions:

How do I balance ambition and silence?

Here’s what Father said:

Ambition = good: but only if it’s rightly ordered. Father reminded us to align our goals with giving glory to God and loving others.

The key? Carve out times of prayer where you don’t think about work. (Yes, it’s hard, but your soul will thank you.) Try dedicating a few days a week to prayer that focuses solely on God, not your to-do list.

What about hobbies?

Hobbies = also good! God wants us to enjoy life. But if you’re married with kids, make sure your hobbies don’t pull you away from your family.

A creative idea? Choose hobbies your family can join in. One guy ditched golf for fishing because his kids could join in: and, surprise, it turned into quality family time. 🎣

💡 Takeaways

Silence is fertile soil for growing in faith, especially during Advent.

Put ambition in its place: not at the center, but as a way to glorify God.

Hobbies should build relationships, not break them.

Challenge for this week: Find one moment of silence each day. Even if it’s 5 minutes in the car or before bed, let that stillness prepare your heart for Christ this Advent. 🕯️

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