Noise

We live in a noisy world. Okay, example: I am sitting in what I would consider complete silence (aside from my typing..after all it is 2 in the morning), however, if I listen closely I can hear the sound of the air conditioning, my clicking fan, the hum of the washing machine, even the distant call of a train. Now picture me in the same spot during the day. Lawn mowers are buzzing outside, birds are chirping, the television is blaring, cars driving by, my mom is shouting to me from the other room, people in and out of the house - and that is all in a quiet suburban neighborhood. But I'm not even talking necessarily about the actual, physical noises in the world. I'm more talking about "noise" as in, our lives. I'm reading a book that says some people in 1965 actually made claims that free time was on the rise. They stated that American people would be able to work twenty-two hours a week and retire at age thirty-eight. Why? Technology. HAH! Instead, we create new technology for ourselves in order to cram more things into our day. What was it that these people had not considered? The hunger of the consumer. Lives grew louder as demands became greater. I used to find myself falling into that trap. As a high school student one semester I remember working two jobs, taking AP classes, participating in marching band, and practically running my youth group all at one time. I'd find myself sitting in some classes thinking about all the things I could be doing rather than listening to some boring teacher lecture. I remember first arriving in the UK and being absolutely put off that they would want to have tea every two hours. That particular experience overseas was especially beneficial to my daily life, and is something I've tried very hard to hold onto. I thought hard about it for awhile when I first began to think that the Brits' emphasis on taking breaks wasn't laziness after all. So I researched it a bit, and have had it all bouncing around in my head for awhile now. There are, in fact many instances in the Bible that would call us away from our busy American lives, if we would only take the moment to observe them. The one that stuck out to me, and was again mentioned in the book I am reading was in Matthew 5 where it simply says:

"Now when he saw the crowd He went up on the mountainside and sat down."

Before Jesus met the masses, he went up on the mountain just to sit. Before the disciples encountered the crowds they encountered Christ. There is a sacredness to silence, to rest. I often wonder how often we muffle the sound of our beloved Savior with the sounds of this busy world. I find value in tea time, because it is a time where I am forced to remove myself from whatever I am doing and rest. It is then that I can push away the roar of this world and encounter my Christ, who beckons me to follow Him to the quiet mountainside.

"My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely..."

Song of Solomon 2:14