Wednesday, April 25, 2018

 “For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.” (Psalm 62:5)

                 What’s that you say? Sorry, I can’t hear you over the noise.

                A recent magazine (Women’s Health) has come out with a story about noise pollution and its health risks in our world. Our environment is filled with a cacophony of noises, especially in our cities – machinery, traffic, our cell phones, radios, TV, etc.  How often do you see someone walking and who has a set of head phones in his or her ears listening to their music? It seems we don’t wish to go anywhere unaccompanied by sound? As I write this I have a Blues station playing in the background. Many of us, in fact, like to have white noise to help us or our children to sleep. The article says that we have become so accustomed to the constant whir of background noise that we don’t even notice it, yet it adversely can affect us.  One article which I googled quotes a study that “noise makes you nervous and nasty”.

                Way, way back in the 1660s, the French philosopher Blaise Pascal speculated, “the sole cause of man’s unhappiness is that he does not know how to stay quietly in his room.”

                A steady barrage of loud noise really bothers me. I am partially deaf in one ear and a very loud, noisy room, for instance, will eventually overwhelm me with its noisy confusion and loud chaos and may trigger mild, anxiety attacks.  A loud, sudden noise will put my nerves on edge. A constant noise – like the little French poodle who lives just behind us and is allowed to bark for 15 minutes - makes me irritable.  I like my peace and quiet which is odd because we have loud, boisterous family gatherings which are a joy and a pleasure and getting crazier now with four young grandchildren.  I love every minute of our family get-togethers but I am also glad to get home, too.

                Silence has become a hot commodity according to the first article.

                I wonder if Jesus was thinking of the noisy distractions of the world when he recommended that one should find a private and quiet space in which to pray and meditate. “Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.” (Matthew 6:6, The Message Bible)

                The Gospels teach us that Jesus enjoyed getting away by himself, finding solitude and quiet for his personal times with God, away from the noisy, demanding crowds. It helped him meet the day and its demands.

                It is like the Psalmist’s prescription for seeking some serenity, tranquillity and one spiritual centeredness:  “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.” (Psalm 37:7, NLT)  That can be hard for us task-oriented Type-A personalities, or for the Marthas  of this world who are always so busy and always so worried and upset about the details or the Solomon’s of this world who are always working on the next big project, or those of us who are maybe just a little afraid of the silence.

                I am all for making a joyful noise every now and then, but it is in the quiet spaces that we find refreshing depths of renewal and regeneration. It is beside still waters that we discover restoration for our souls. It is in the calm hush that it is possible to hear and experience the still, small voice of God.

“Then they were glad because they had quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.” (Psalm 107:30)

Dale