Silence can be hard to come by in our hectic, fast paced and often LOUD world.  Sometimes is seems that everywhere we go we are bombarded with sound and often it is just too loud to ignore.  As someone who is very sensitive to sound, if it is too loud it sends shock waves through my entire body.  I am very aware of the potential harm in prolonged exposure to my own body, but I believe constant exposure to noise is harmful to every one.  Once while leaving a church service with especially loud music a dear older man who was a church usher said to me, “We’re going to need to have a healing service for all the people who go deaf from the music.”

But aside from the pain and discomfort caused by loud sounds, they also disrupt our spiritual connection to the divine.  We need that connection.  We actually need time alone in the silence to clear our minds, reconnect and remember who we are.  If you think you are too busy to find time for silent reflection, don’t worry, sooner or later you body will make time.  This may not be the most pleasant of experiences as it may involve a physical injury or illness requiring you to stop and just be still.

Find time in your day to sit in the stillness and just be.  You can start with just a few minutes.  If you live a busy life it may take time to get used to the quiet.  It may feel bad at first.  I believe that is why we work so hard to fill our lives up with busyness and noise, to avoid the discomfort we feel in silence.  We may even do this in church.  Give it time.

I like to spend time in nature.  Sitting in a beautiful setting naturally calms me.  Focusing on your breath is another way to ease into silence.  You may meditate if you wish.  A spiritual path I follow calls the place of stillness where we meet God in meditation The Silence.  You will hear more about this aspect of silence later this month.

Our bodies, minds and spirits need times of quiet.  Find or create the time to sit and listen to the silence.