April 3, 2026 - Good Friday

39 Minutes of Sacred Silence

(Visio Divina)

Beloved Friends,

On this Good Friday we have gently lengthened our silence to 39 minutes. Remember that any amount of time you are able to spend in sacred silence is a gift. Grace abounds!

I invite you to gaze upon this image as you lean into your practice of Visio Divina (sacred gazing). This powerful, challenging and compelling painting has touched me deeply. I hope you find it to be a meaningful part of your Good Friday silent prayer as well.

Breathe deeply. Gaze gently at this challenging Good Friday Visio Divina image and pray for a deeper understanding of God's message for you today.

Something that I didn't realize when I was putting this retreat together was that the flower I chose to include at the top of each email is actually called a Passion Flower. Amazing! God can be so full of wonderful surprises!

I took the picture at St. Brigid's Center in Kildare, Ireland and was simply captivated by its beauty, but had no idea what it was called. So, if you are looking for a second possibility for your time of visio divina today, I offer you this additional picture of the Passion Flower. May it add a meaningful layer to your experience of the Passion today.

Be encouraged in your gently growing practice of silent prayer as you tune out the noise around you and tune in to God's Presence. Remember that you are part of a broad and beloved community of faithful folks who are also nurturing the gifts of simplicity and stillness this Lenten season.

Let us lift one another in prayer as we journey together into the sacred silence...

Your Companion in Silence,

Sharon

Sharon Seyfarth Garner

Director, Belly of the Whale Ministries

216-224-7452

sharon@bellyofthewhaleministries.net

www.bellyofthewhaleministries.net

Photo Credit: Unfortunately, I do not know the name of the artist and want very much to give credit where it is due. The picture is signed at the bottom right corner, but the picture is not good enough quality for me to read it. If anyone knows the name of the artist, please let me know. I would be very grateful. The image is so striking that I still want to share it with you today and will share credit for the artist once I am able to track that down. Thank you for your patience.