Our pastor’s sermon this morning was on the somewhat unusual topic of silence. The focal verse was the first part of Psalm 46:10, which directs us to “Be still and know that I am God…” and is one of a number of references throughout Scripture regarding the necessity of being silent (Ecclesiastes 3:7 probably being the most widely recognized of those verses).
It’s almost impossible to find a place that’s completely silent. Even the seemingly quiet areas and times in our homes have a continuous soundtrack that we perhaps sense only subconsciously. In my home, it’s the whir of the computer fan, the chiming of the living room clock on the quarter hour, the A/C compressor cycling on and off, the garbage truck in the alley, and so on. Even in the dead of night, the house clicks and creaks and that clock chimes it’s tightly wound little heart out.
Most of us go out of our way to avoid silence anyway (a glance at the iPod sales statistics seems to confirm this). We’re uncomfortable with lapses in conversation; we’ll generate filler material, even when the interval between utterances would have been much more edifying. (It occurs to me that the same thing could be said for most of us bloggers with respect to the written word.)
Another rare experience nowadays is that of total darkness. Abe Lincoln could have done his homework by the cumulative glow of the LEDs scattered around our house, what with alarm clocks, telephones, power strips, cell phones, various and sundry small appliances doing double duty as chronometers, etc. We even have actual night lights in each room of the house, although they seem redundant given the natural lumenosity of our surroundings.
Total darkness and total silence are, like straight lines, anathema to Nature. Light was the first thing God spoke into being, and the ability to stir the air — to make a sound — is one of the fundamental ways we judge something to be alive. Sensory deprivation can be used to either heal or torture. As with most things in life, the key is moderation. I suspect we all could benefit from a moderate increase in silence. I don’t know if the same is true of darkness, but it’s not likely I’m going to find out anytime soon.
A worthy and good topic……and one I dwell on, sometimes to excess. The lack of darkness especially. Due to neighbors outdoor lights on 24/7 there is nowhere in our house that photons are not violating our privacy. The backyard is flooded with landscape lighting from the house across the alley so that the enjoyment of a dark and starry night outside is not possible. I’ve come to the conclusion that by and large, Americans are afraid of the dark.
Somehow two weeks ago we were able to farm-out all four kids for the weekend. The wife and I sat around and noticed all the funny sounds the house makes. Things we never noticed because of the endless noise of Sponge-bob all day long.
My favorite silence – The woods of East Texas at midnight.
Great topic for your pastor and your blog entry.
Silence and stillness are essential for spiritual communication of all sorts. Both the Divine and the Infernal are much more easily reached in silence.
“Total darkness and total silence are, like straight lines, anathema to Nature.”
Well… How many caves exist, how many we don’t know about? Aren’t they totally dark? The depth of the oceans are totally dark as well. The vastness of space is totally silent. All are places of intense dark, silence, and are natural as they were created by God.
But you’re completely correct in that darkness and total silence are anathema to the human nature. We prefer light, warmth, and pleasant sounds. The clearest proof of this lies in closely examining those beings which are diametrically opposed to humanity. In a way, they are defined by their opposition to us in the sight of God. What we are, they are not. What we enjoy, they despise. For example…
“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” (Psalms 100 1,2)
In every human culture, including non-Christian ones, “joyful noise” is one of the traditional ways of driving away evil spirits from residing in a place. It’s possible this might even be an early purpose of the Jewish Shofar. Granted, Judaism has a far more complicated explanation for the Shofar’s use in disturbing the Infernal.
http://www.nishmas.org/minhagim/shofar.htm
http://www.jewishgates.com/file.asp?File_ID=1085
Superficially, it seems almost a contradiction that Evil will use loud noises to aggravate their chosen enemy (us). In reality, Evil will use whatever is necessary. Anything oppressive to humanity is something to be promoted in their war against us. Even our language reflects this: a “hellish” sound, a hectic, “hellish” environment. One never hears about “hellish” silence.
Evil spirits will even go so far as to make all sorts of weird and unpleasant noises to frighten humans away from a place they’ve chosen to inhabit, primarily because it works.
But silence is something they, themselves, prefer in places they settle.
In part, that’s because there are different kinds of silence. There’s the peaceful silence found in places of worship and contemplation. But there’s also the unnatural, even anti-natural silence found in abandoned, empty places. The distinction is in the place, its purpose, and its inhabitants, human or otherwise.
Silence and desolation are unnatural to the human spirit. As such, they’re preferred resting places of Evil. There is some truth to why any house that’s been empty or abandoned gets the reputation of being “haunted”. What people are describing, imperfectly, is their own innately human reaction to the silence and desolation of the place.
That particular human reaction is (as usual) opposite to the appeal such places have for Evil spirits. Cultures as far back as the Sumerians have noted that desolate places, abandoned or ruined buildings invariably attract such “residents”. Nothing’s changed.
Anyone who has ever suddenly “gotten the creeps” all alone in an empty building or house has felt, ever so slightly, their presence.
Excellent points, as always, Mr. Freen.
I would take mild exception to your assertion regarding the occurrence of darkness in nature. Even in the deepest of caverns or ocean rifts, the presence of bioluminescent organisms often provides measurable (if not discernible by the human eye) intrusion into the dominance of darkness.
The presence of bioluminescence is amazingly widespread, and has been observed in organisms as diverse as mushrooms, plankton and even owls. It’s been estimated that 90% of all deep sea organisms have bioluminescent capabilities.
To my way of thinking, this is proof that nature abhors not only vacuums but absolute darkness.
Very nice blog and I appreciated these thoughts on being still – and the important second part – knowing him.
When I lived on a farm over near the West Coast of New Zealand we would hace complete silence at night – I had never experienced real total silence like that before. It was amazing and sometimes we’d sit outside together and just meditate on God.
Catez, New Zealand
Catez, thanks for dropping in, and for the kind words. I’ve always wanted to visit NZ. Perhaps some day, Lord willing. Fortunately, we’re close enough to nowhere out here that it’s still possible to experience the kind of solitude you describe. Reminding myself to do it is really the hard part.
Quietude
Eric says: Our pastor’s sermon this morning was on the somewhat unusual topic of silence. The focal verse was the…
Eric, et al
Ever tried covering your ears with drinking glasses or shells????
Ever tuned a radio in places on the dial were there are no radio stations????
Ever tuned the TV on Channels where there are no stations broadcasting????
Ever tried covering your ears with drinking glasses or shells????
White noise
Ever tuned a radio in places on the dial were there are no radio stations????
White noise
Ever tuned the TV on Channels where there are no stations broadcasting????
White noise
And your point would be…?
Great post, Eric. Having lived in Wyoming for many years before coming to Texas, my wife and I have camped under the canopy of heaven and have never ceased to be amazed at what one can see without all the “extra” illumination. And … sometimes the quiet is so loud that it is difficult to sleep!
Visiting via a referral through The Fat Guy. Nice topic.
Silence is an integral part of many forms of worship. Buddhists certainly apply silence in meditation. Quakers–at least the unprogrammed variety–use silence in place of a minister. It can be extremely unnerving to many first-time visitors. I’ve talked to many people who become flustered, anxious, or who can’t keep themselves from laughing when they confront extended silence.
Sounds easy, but it’s not.
Reply to Eric, et al
For a transistor radio to hear, a transistor radio has to vibrate in RESONANCE with the vibrations sent out by the radio broadcasting station. (Google TUNED CIRCUIT.)
Your transistor radio will have some form of oscillator oftentimes consisting of a coil (inductor) connected in parallel with a variable capacitor. Electrons will go BACK AND FORTH between coil and variable capacitor. The FREQUENCY OR SPEED OF REPETITION OF THIS BACK AND FORTH is the kilocycles or kilorepetitions that your transistor radio is doing as you adjust the dial to get a station. WHEN YOU ADJUST THAT KNOB TO GET A STATION, YOU ARE ACTUALLY ROTATING CLOSELY SPACED BUT NON-TOUCHING METAL PLATES OF THE VARIABLE CAPACITOR – THUS ARE ABLE TO ENLARGE OR DECREASE THE TOTAL AREA OF METAL PLATES THAT ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY WITH EACH OTHER. Hence, the term, “VARIABLE capacitor.” To tune this type of OSCILLATING CIRCUIT, YOU DONT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING WITH THE COIL. ALL YOU DO IS ROTATE THE VARIABLE CAPACITOR. (TO ME, THIS OSCILLATION, KILOCYCLES, KILOREPETITIONS THAT YOUR TRANSISTOR RADIO IS DOING IS “NOISE.”
Just as your transistor radio, a broadcasting station is also making its own noise, oscillating, kilorepeating say at 1070 kilocycles in the case of KWEL RADIO AM WHERE CRAIG ANDERSON AND JJ MA’CLAIN DO THEIR TALK SHOW AND WHERE YOU CAN ALSO PARTICIPATE, or kilorepeating at 550 kilocycles in the case of KCRS or 1150 kilocycles in the case of KJBC. Have you tuned in on KJBC? It is jampacked with tons and tons of very intersting information!!!
So you see, TO HEAR, THE HEARER, which in this case is your transistor radio, THE HEARER OR TRANSITOR RADIO HAS TO OSCILLATE AND MAKE NOISE AT A FREQUENCY THAT IS IN RESONANCE WITH THE OSCILLATION AND NOISE FREQUENCY MADE BY THE RADIO STATION.
Just as with your transistor radio, more specifically, its “TUNED CIRCUIT”, SO TOO WITH ALL RESONANCE OF VIBRATIONS WHETHER VERY VERY LOW FREQUENCIES AS IN EARTHQUAKES WHICH CAN BE HEARD BY DOGS, CATS, LOW FREQUENCIES AS IN SOUNDS THAT THE EARS OF HUMANS CAN DETECT, OR HIGH FREQUENCY AS IN VISIBLE LIGHT, VERY HIGH FREQUENCIES THAT THE HUMAN EAR CANNOT DETECT BUT WHICH SOME INSECTS AND THE TUNED CIRCUIT OF A TRANSISTOR RADIO CAN.
But hearing is not limited to the ear. Your chest can also hear, as when it vibrates in RESONANCE with the vibrations of those BOOM BOXES. In apparitions, some seers or visionaries have experienced what is known as “INNER LOCUTION” where GOD COMMUNICATES WITH THEM. THEY HEAR GOD, BUT THE PEOPLE AROUND DO NOT. IN FATIMA, FOR EXAMPLE, THE VISIONARIES COULD SEE AND TALK TO MARY IN THE APPARITIONS, BUT THE SOME 80 THOUSAND ONLOOKERS COULD NOT. BUT ALL OF THEM SAW THE SUN SPINNING, FALL TOWARDS THEM AND RETURN TO THE SKY. IN ZEITUN, ABOVE AN EGYPTIAN COPTIC CHURCH, MANY MUSLIMS AND EGYPTIAN COPTICS HAVE ALSO SEEN A WOMAN LEVITATING UP THERE. ONE OF THOSE WHO SAW HER WAS THE LATE EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT ABDEL NASSER. GOOGLE “apparition zeitun egyptian coptic church abdel nasser”
Sounds, lights, x-rays, — these are all vibrations. There is a source or sender that is sending out vibrations, and receivers to detect the vibrations are also vibrating at the same oscillation or repetitions as the source. To hear, we need to LEARN HOW TO TUNE. AND AS WE TUNE TO THE SAME STATIONS AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN, THE MORE EXPERT WE BECOME AT TUNING IN ON SAID STATIONS. TO WHICH VIBRATIONS , OSCILLATIONS, STATIONS ARE YOU TUNING NOT ONLY YOUR EARS, BUT YOUR HEART, YOUR SOUL, YOUR MIND, YOUR ALL???
Quakers–at least the unprogrammed variety–use silence in place of a minister.
How do you tell if a Quaker is programmed?
How do you tell if a Quaker is programmed?
Haw!
He knows the joke about “The service starts when the meeting ends.”
(OTOH, if your question is serious, there are two kinds of Quaker Meetings, or congregations. A programmed meeting has a pastor and holds a meeting for worship that has a planned program. An unprogrammed meeting has no pastor and no agenda. The congregants sit silently in a room, each allowed to speak in turn when moved to do so.)
Quaker, as I typed that question, it occurred to me that it would be a good straight line…but, I really was serious in asking it. I know very little about Quakers, and I appreciate your taking the time to enlighten me.
The joke is pretty good, too. 😉
I think we’re seeing more of the “unprogrammed” style of worship meetings even in the “mainstream” Christian denominations, as people seek more contemplative surroundings in which to encounter God. I think it’s a trend worth encouraging.
Umm…is your “nom de blog” indicative of any particular Quaker practice?