Take time for silence
At a gathering of neighbors, I asked everyone how often they took time for silence. The responses were revealing. Several said they "don't have time for silence." A couple said silence was "scary." When I asked why, they said it made them anxious or nervous, not knowing what to think or feel. Another said silence was an attribute of oppressed people, since they live in fear of the taking of their lives or property if they speak out.
Isn't the world noisy! In our home, car, outside in the fresh air, at work, in shopping centers — noise is invading our need for quiet time. Seeking some quiet time, if only a few minutes daily, can recharge our inner batteries, make us pause before acting, rest our mind, restore our souls. When someone says, "I don't have time for that type of foolishness," that strikes me as a danger signal. People who have no time for silence are usually the ones who feel powerless (trying to solve problems they don't own) and have let their lives spin out of control.
We all need quiet time to examine our lives, to shut the world out. Poet Christina Rossetti wrote: "Silence is more musical than any song."
Richard Morgan
High Point
Comments (1)
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That gathering of neighbors must not have included many mothers as most know the value of "quiet time".
Posted on February 3, 2008 10:46 AM