Silence Is a Fence Around Wisdom

Interesting article, The Sound of Noise Pollution in Our Lives:

In study after study direct links have been discovered between noise and some pretty serious conditions: stress, high blood pressure, sleeplessness — even speech interference and hearing loss. Noise pollution can also cause forgetfulness, depression and panic attacks....

Not only our ears, but our minds and spirits are bombarded with discord and ugliness. "Everyday noise is under the radar, yet it affects everyone's life," asserted Louis Hagler, a retired physician in Oakland, Calif., who recently published a review in the Southern Medical Journal of studies linking noise exposure to heath problems. "We don't say to people, 'You just have to learn to live with sewage in your water.' Why should we tolerate sewage coming into our ears?"...

And all this interferes with our ability to think, to perceive promptings of the Spirit...

"Let us be silent, that we may hear the whisper of the Gods," Emerson said....

Let's guard against it and take control of our environment into our own hands—the quality of our lives.

I know that my life is full of noise that distracts and robs me of my concentration (the AC at work, the coworkers phone conversation) or grates on my nerves (the frig, the clock, the dripping sink, the neighbor's TV) and even interrupts my sleep (the window air conditioner, the passing traffic). So when one of these stops I feel noticeably relieved.

It's good to make time for silence even if you have to steal away to the car for a few muffled minutes because listening to the still small voice, calming trouble thoughts or communing with God requires quiet.

One of my favorite scriptures is Psalms 46:10, Be still and know that I am God.

So, BE STILL...turn off the tv, turn off the radio in the car, and put aside the ear buds. Shut down the dishwasher, the washer and dryer, and other appliances.

Plan for quiet time in your life. And teach your children to be comfortable with quiet time too. It's important.

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