Having moved recently, I am now keenly aware of the sounds in my new environment. Water dripping, air conditioning or heater running, floor creaks, bird calls, traffic in the distance, overhead light hums, and more! It’s tough to adjust because I’m not always sure what manner of creation is making the noise or what its significance is!
And I’m conscious that there is such little absolute silence in life. True, we can “tune out” of some familiar noises such that we don’t even “hear” them any more because our brain has automatically accounted for it. But moving into a new space, all that has to be relearned.
So long as I have a quiet place some where, I’m good to go with the normal ebb and flow of noise. And, I rather enjoy occasional forays into big noise like a parade or sporting event or raucous gatherings of family, nuns, and friends!
What’s your relationship with silence and noise? Do you swing more one way than another?
The Gospels are a great place to look to see how the dynamic of silence and noise plays out in the life of Jesus. Sometimes Jesus is in the midst of the crowds, other times alone in the wilderness. In both places — the Noise and the Silence — Jesus encounters God.
In the Noise … When Jesus goes to the Jordan River with John the Baptist and a crowd of people, John baptizes Jesus. The heavens open up and the voice of God resounds, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)
In the Silence … Right after his baptism, Jesus is led by God into the wilderness where he fasted and prayed for 40 days. (Matthew 4:1-2)
How do you find God in times of noise, however cacophonous it might be? What about the silence? Does it ever seem to get so overwhelming that it seems unbearably loud? Where is God? Share your experience with the community here.
Archived Comments
- May 29, 2012 at 8:40 am
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Somehow I feel my prayers are heard better in silence, but considering the hustle and bustle of everyday life I pray at all times of the day. God knows my heart, He knows when I have trouble finding the words and He knows when I can’t seem to focus because of outside distractions…so with that being said, I pray at all times of the day/night.
At the top of this page it states “Wonder how God is calling you?” I’ve wondered what my calling is my whole life (I’m 58)…one day recently it hit me! I’m a caregiver by nature and I’ve taken care of and reached out to people most of my life. Without God allowing us to cross paths, the circumstances for both of us would have been so different. I could go on and on, but you get it If I can manage to get past the ‘I can do this myself’ and listen to what God places in my heart, it always works!! Whatever the frustration, sadness, even anger; a moment in prayer and asking for His help is the answer.
- May 29, 2012 at 8:42 am
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Good reflection as the tourist traffic here increases! Even moving my bedroom in the same house has revealed new sounds. I differentiate between “noise” and “sound”. Can you imagine the difference? It’s easier for me to listen in “sound”. “noise” just annoys me. But most of all, I love silence. I find it easier to listen to quiet inspirations and the Presence within. But I don’t want to live in the desert, or on the main street. I like balance. And knowing that no matter where I am, or what is happening, all is contained in the Divine Presence that animates and sustains Creation.
- May 29, 2012 at 9:56 am
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I’m the type who finds it hard to enjoy silence, unless I’ve been busy at school or someone’s hammering or vacuuming at an obscene hour. I’ve been trying to remember to have a few minutes of silence in the morning, or before bed. I like to keep moving though, and it’s a stark difference from a lot of people I know. Finding God in the quiet usually happens when I’m reading, or there’s a song from mass or prayer running through my head. Sometimes it’s when I hear a little bird while I sit outside. Silence is good, but in small doses for me.
- May 29, 2012 at 10:31 am
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I have come to a new appreciation of silence in the three years since my husband died. At first the quiet in the house seemed almost unendurable. Gradually that changed, and now I find myself reveling in the silence. (I actually have other people living in the downstairs area of the house, but they are extraordinarily kind and thoughtful, and I hardly know they are there much of the day – though we generally get together for some “community time” at some points during the day.
I have cancelled my TV service in advance of plans to be away this summer, and am glad to be saving the money and silencing the noise. I get all I need of news on the computer.
But I’ve been surprised at how much I appreciate the quiet of morning and late evening especially. It no longer makes me anxious and restless. Now it feels like peace.
- June 8, 2012 at 1:20 pm
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The best of both worlds – a quiet house at night with a beloved dog snoring softly next to you – heaven!
