When we speak of silence in Centering Prayer and other contemplative practices, we are not speaking primarily of the physical, exterior absence of noise, but rather of an interior awareness of the always-present Presence of God beneath and between our thoughts, feelings, and sensations. As such, while exterior silence may certainly be conducive to contemplative practice, it is by no means a requirement for it. Exterior quiet supports our longing for divine intimacy by clearing away some of the sensory distractions to this intimacy, allowing us to develop a sensitivity to the “still, small voice” (1 Kings 19:12) that gradually enables us to recognize that voice even amid the innumerable other thoughts presented to us. Think of the mother who has become so attuned to the voice of her child that she can pick out that voice in the middle of a busy playground. Dedicated time in quiet external conditions is encouraged inasmuch as it allows us to attune to the voice of our Beloved, but as we persevere in continued practice of presence, we will begin to notice that voice everywhere, even in the cacophony of life in the world!