Elder Efraim of Arizona : Silence
 																														    We have so much material offered by the devil, the world, and our  carelessness to talk about idly, so many events and stories that are  taking place and will take place, that we have plenty to occupy  ourselves with; while “the one thing needful,” to approach God through  prayer, we have laid aside. Our need for this spiritual turning to God  is so urgent that nothing else should preoccupy us other than how to be  close to God by means of prayer and holy thoughts, which also greatly  help us achieve this goal.
 
From the book
Councels from the Holy mountain
Selected from the letters and homilies of Elder Efraim of Arizon