Appreciate the Silence

Purposely not going to edit the one below too much. I wrote this back in April of 2020, right as the COVID stuff was in peak and forcing us all to stay to ourselves. This definitely stretched some of you I'm sure and challenged you. Now as we are pretty much back to normal, some of us may miss the simplicity of those days not running around so it is important to appreciate that downtime.

Well we made it through April, forced to slow down, forced to appreciate our homes, our jobs, our families and all those little things that we took for granted. As I look back on this past month, it actually felt good. Sure, I wanted to get out, shake hands with people, go to church and have some social interaction, but it felt good to mostly sit back. When there is nothing to do, enjoy some downtime, or spend a little time doing those chores/items on your list that you have not wanted to do and just been sitting around. As we move into May, when things in some areas are starting to open back up again, what can you take away into the days, months and years ahead.

In today’s day and age we are constantly connected. My kids laugh when I remind them how I grew up at the age of 13 with a dial-up modem and no cell phone or social media. When I started my first job I had a basic phone to call my wife to let her know I was on my way home. It was not until long after my first child was born that I had a smartphone to connect me beyond the basics. In reality those were good days. Am I reflecting my age, yes I am and proudly. Truthfully speaking we all need days like that to fully disconnect and enjoy those moments of silence.

Studies have shown that people look at their phones 96 times per day. That is one time every 12 minutes. Think about that for just a second. One time every 12 minutes… What did you used to do during those 96 times? I’ll tell you what you probably did. You probably talked with the person next to you, thought about something you needed to do, reflected on something you did, or maybe just enjoyed the quiet of the time around you. I listened to my oldest son the other day complain he was bored, he had nothing to do. I’m sure none of you have ever heard that from your kids, friends or anybody. Did I care, absolutely not, we all need a little more boredom in our life. Some time with our minds not filled with TV, Radio, or background noise.

I’ll be totally transparent, I listen to a lot of books and podcasts. Most mornings before everyone is awake I have my headphones in walking around and listening to something. When I go to the grocery store by myself I listen to them. On and on, I listen during most of the time that I have by myself. I enjoy them, but I also enjoy my time of prayer or time just sitting on the front porch or time when my kids were born feeding them their bottle in the middle of the night, looking at their faces. We don’t need to always be consumed with media and something to keep our attention we need to allow our minds to disconnect with life, connect with God, connect with ourselves and listen for “that still small voice.”

1 King 19:11-13 (KJV)

11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:

12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

Maybe you are not a Christian or a believer and you do yoga, meditate or whatever. Take the time to hear that small voice in your head. Take the time to enjoy the silence, enjoy the time with the people around you. Be present and take a break from the connected world around you. You’ve earned it and those around you have earned it too.

Book Recommendation:

Stillness is Key by Ryan Holiday: Still HIGHLY recommend this book. It is well worth it.

Oh, and if you are truly looking to disconnect there are some really nice Nokia phones that will take you back to the early 2000s and save you from all those smartphone distractions. I know because I have one that I purchased for my kid and am strongly considering using it. Although it will make Android Auto and podcasts a bit difficult.