“As long as my mind is raging with thoughts, ideas, plans and fears, I cannot listen significantly to God or any other dimension of reality.” (Morton T. Kelsey, Adventure Inward).

I read this in my favorite book, Disciplines for the Inner Life (by Bob Benson, Sr. and Michael W. Benson), and boy, it spoke to me. This world does not give us quiet! There is noise all around – actual loud noise, like the over 103 decibels we heard (and did our best to contribute to) at the Texas Aggies game last weekend (Gig ‘em!); daily noise, like the washing machine and the TV; virtual noise, like all the non-stop input so many experience as part of their interaction with social media; and inner noise, like the chatter I heard in my head about work and other more mundane things, and finally succumbed to, at 3:22 this morning.

Silence is vulnerable. By its very nature it does not overtake noise of any kind. It will not assert itself. It cannot. Certainly we can see God and his activity throughout our days, and we can pray and learn about him during all of our everyday experiences. But when we create or allow some silence, its just easier to hear God. We’ve heard of, and probably experienced, God’s “still, small voice” (1 Kings 19:12). In silence we can hear that voice, read Scripture, and reflect on its meaning for us and our world. In silence we can get a little rest for our souls.

I suspect most believers agree with these assertions. But are we making, taking, guarding time to be quite with God? We are in charge of our own minds and hearts and schedules. We must not relinquish control to everything out there, and in ourselves, which does not lead us to God. We must, as Jesus did so often, find ways to pull away from normal life, so we can have the silence necessary to hear our God. This will look different for each of us. I’m not saying how anyone else should do it. Some may think it impossible; they are probably those who need it the most. Can you create some silence today?