“In the seventh century, Isaac the Syrian wrote about 'stillness,' which in his writings has been summarized as 'a deliberate denial of the gift of words for the sake of achieving inner silence, in the midst of which a person can hear the presence of God. It is standing unceasingly, silent, and prayerfully before God.” Silence Book:Jacob and the Prodigal : How Jesus Re-Told Israel's Story Source: Jacob and the Prodigal : How Jesus Re-Told Israel's Story