The Sound of Silence
“He growled, with his Grinch fingers nervously drumming, ‘I MUST find some way to stop Christmas from coming!’
For tomorrow, He knew, All the Who girls and boys, would wake bright and early. They’d rush for their toys! And then! Oh the noise! Oh, the Noise! Noise! Noise! Noise! Noise! That’s the one thing he hated! The NOISE! NOISE! NOISE! NOISE!”
If the opening paragraph threw you for a little loop, because the post title had your thoughts traveling down a different path, don’t worry- we will get there. We’re just taking the long way home. (And for those who do not know what I’m talking about regarding the title, then you are probably too young, but I will enlighten you.)
Growing up, I was a huge Dr Seuss fan. I remember running to the section of the library, where I knew all of his books were housed, and selecting one after another to read. I adored his whimsical writing style and the cadence of his rhymes.
His made up words, made me smile and stretched the imagination of a young, creative who yearned to write. When I grew older and was blessed with children of my own, Dr Seuss books were a family favorite to pull out at bedtime.
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” was one I could quote, practically in its entirety. So, when I began planning and contemplating this post regarding silence, the Grinch’s frustration over all the racket the Who children would make on Christmas morning danced in my mind.
What a brilliant illustration for the current state of affairs we find ourselves trying to slosh through on the daily. It’s loud and noisy and chaotic in the great, big world we reside in, and it’s only getting worse.
Noise from our TV shows.
Noise from our computers.
Noise from our phones.
Noise from the car radio.
Noise from a sea of voices, screaming for our attention.
And yes, even noise from our little “Who” girls and boys as they run around the house and play with their toys.
With everything swirling around us, you would think the cacophony would keep us on high alert and attentions focused, when in reality the opposite has occurred.
“And the people bowed and prayed, to the neon god they made.”
Simon and Garfunkel
Their smooth sound and beautiful harmonies are unmatched still to this day. Hit songs were not only creative, but thought provoking, as they strove to share meaningful messages, not just pop, bubble gum sing alongs.
In 1964, “The Sound of Silence” was released and forever became an iconic tune, not easily forgotten. Paul Simon said he wrote the lyrics and melody while sitting in the darkness of his bathroom one restless night. Culture and technology were shifting rapidly and in a sea of people, he could still feel lonely.
Lamenting over the distractions that were pulling individuals into isolation spheres of their own making, which caused relationships to fade, as focus began to shift inward; the lyrics are sung with a sense of haunting foreboding. Self-centeredness creates a void, a silence, that is deafening.
We were created for community and connection. Real, flesh and blood- not the glow from our Facebook “friends” on a screen. The song feels like a prophetic warning for generations to come, but do we heed its message?
“And in the naked light I saw, ten thousand people, maybe more. People talking without speaking. People hearing without listening. People writing songs that voices never share, no one dared. Disturb the sound, of silence.”
Everyone, these days, has plenty to say in the comment section, but refuse to converse with others outside of shared beliefs. We hear all the chatter, but neglect to digest what is being discussed; therefore, making no attempt to understand one another. No one wishes to disrupt the “silence” that continues to grow, “like a cancer”, as the song declares in another verse.
So how do we balance the two?
The constant chaos and noise, has driven us to throw in our AirPods to block the madness and escape, which is causing silence and a lack of human connection to actually overwhelm us, and we become lonely, depressed, anxious and afraid.
“So He(God) said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.’ And behold, the Lord was passing by, and a great and powerful wind was tearing out the mountains and breaking the rocks in pieces before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind, [there was] an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake [there was] a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire [there was] the sound of a gentle blowing. When Elijah heard the sound, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave.” 1 Kings 19:11-13a
We need silence and a break from the incessant barrage of racket around us. The answer for a healthy retreat, is found in the “gentle blowing”.
Elijah experienced a powerful move of the Lord, but it was in the gentleness God spoke. “Be still and know that I am God” is not just an awesome saying for our coffee mugs, it is vital.
When we walk beside the still waters of the river of God, and rest in the grassy meadows He provides, there is a refreshing that happens within our souls nothing of this world can mimic. So, how do we practically apply these principles? Glad you asked.
Make time for the Word of God and study.
In your prayer time, have moments where you ask God what is on His heart that you can pray for, and then wait for the answer.
Turn the radio off in your car and practice sitting in silence to develop an awareness of His presence.
Start a journal and quietly sit and write out your thoughts and feelings for the day. Pray the Lord would help you work through any struggles.
Take a walk and observe the glorious creation we have been given. God definitely speaks through the stillness of a wooded path.
These are merely a small sampling of ways you can begin to unwrap yourself from the chains of chaos this life seeks to bind you in. Hopefully your mental wheels are turning with new ideas.
Something amazing happens when you begin to practice silence with the Savior. Stress is lifted. Hope is restored. You feel energized to continue the work of the Father. A new desire to reach out to others in service begins to grow. You can breathe!
The endless noise and clatter of this world will not ease. As Simon and Garfunkel pointed out, disconnecting from life is never the answer, and neither is stealing everyone’s toys and their last can of Who-hash.
Come and drink deep from the cool waters of the river flowing from the throne of God. Be refreshed and renewed by sitting at the Savior’s feet. Discover a total peace within the confines of His Presence.
The sound of His silence… changes everything.