Spiritual Disciplines

The theme for our Easter School was Spiritual Disciplines and over the 6 days we looked at Prayer and Fasting, Thanksgiving and Celebration, Silence, Obedience and Submission, Sacrifice and Simplicity. Each theme was supported by academic study, practical work, Bible study small group discussion and worship.
Looking back over the week as a whole I have been thinking about how my life experience so far has shaped my understanding of these things and how they are shaping me and will shape my future ministry. I guess I am not alone in finding some easier than others, and I struggle with the way concepts like Submission and Sacrifice can be misrepresented and abused so that they become oppressive rather than life giving.

But I promised to say something about the discipline of silence...
I am not very good at it!
In fact, although I need and much appreciate silence space and stillness in my life, On Thursday I was in the very difficult position of being in a community of people who were spending the entire day (meals and all) in silence, on a day when what I wanted most to do was stomp and shout!
I have to add that shouting is something I do far less of than silence and stillness, however, not wanting to disturb other's silence I decided mid morning to put my walking boots on and take myself off for a long walk.
For the most part I did walk in silence and solitude and I spent half an hour in a beautiful village church in silent prayer.
So far so good, but then I climbed a tree and I spent half an hour sat in tree shouting my prayer very loudly - much to the surprise of a poor dog walker who must have thought I was completely crazy!

But,

The silence in which I climbed down the tree and walked the few miles back to School was far more profoundly peaceful following my shouting.
The following morning our Bible Study was 1 Kings 19. The story of the Lord coming to Elijah in the "still small voice" or as the New Century Version put it "a quiet gentle sound". (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2019&version=NCV)

I wonder if Elijah would have noticed the that soft and silent presence had it not been in such contrast to the storm and commotion that went before? I wonder if I would have been able to enter so profoundly into God's presence on my walk back had I not also gone through the storm?
So I'd like to put in a plea for shouting as a spiritual discipline. Although I'd make the tree climbing optional...