May 12th, 2019

"By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures."
~ Proverbs 24: 3,4

Sometimes I find that I treasure silence. We need silence. We desire silence, but because we are so accustomed to the noise of the world we forget how to seek silence, until we reach a plateau, stop, and listen for the breeze to rustle the leaves.

Our home should be a place where silence may gather itself. It must be a place where it can be greeted and welcomed.

Simon and Garfunkel years ago wrote an entire song about the sounds of silence. What does silence sound like to you?

So often it is disturbing that our busy lives distracts us from seeking times of silence.

I often discover two very disturbing "noises" when I seek the sound of silence. They are "time" and "task."

Always convincing myself I don't have the time for such moments and I always seem to have a mountain of things I must attempt to climb.

These are two things I find hard to face and to challenge.

What are we to do? Jesus says, "Go and learn the meaning of the words: Mercy is what pleases me, not sacrifice" (Matthew 9:13).

We shouldn't do that with our focus on time and tasks.

We can be merciful toward our own noisy selves and turn these enemies into friends.

God, help me to make silence my friend so that I may know the precious gift of time and how to spend it wisely while not over - loading my day so that I may appreciate the moments of silence I need with You.

Stay in God's grip!

G. Todd Williams (c) 2019