Ponder Silence
Help me please?
Take a few moments and “ponder” with me.
There is a specific topic on my mind for both of us. Would you contemplate, and think about silence? Guessing what you are thinking…you want to know why think about silence? (By the way, I like ponder better.)
Humor me.
Go along with me for the time it takes to read this brief blog. Ponder silence.
First where is the quietest place you know? We’ll get to the reasons why quiet and silence are valuable commodities for all humans of all ages later. Where is the quietest place you know? Is it quiet on your deck, behind your house, or in the park closed because of the virus in your neighborhood? Perhaps you think the quietest place is the farmer’s field outside of town. Wait, the quietest place may be the nearest wilderness area to you. For me it is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Northeastern Minnesota.
But is there a place even quieter than any of these?
This may be the quietest one: try the moon. Because sound travels on air waves and the moon has no atmosphere, the moon is a place of absolute stillness. Look at the moon. Don’t wander, sit down in a comfortable chair outside, or lean against a tree that way you can be focused on the subject. Now look at the moon.
Think about silence. This will begin you on a new journey: adding times of silence in your life.
Why add times of silence to your life? Isn’t that a waste of time? We are all busy, there are multiple things to occupy every waking minute. Adding a time of silence takes away time which could be devoted to other things…our to do lists are long.
What if I told you adding a time of silence to each day will result in improved physical and mental health. Are you listening with great attention now? It’s true-Greater physical and mental health result for those who include times of silence in each day.
Does this work for children too? It does.
A time of silence reduces stress. It lowers our blood pressure, and decreases the chance of inflammation of blood vessels, decreases heart disease, and lowers plaque in the bloodstream. There is more, silence boosts the human immune system. During this time of virus, a strong immune system is vital…but it always is for good health. Silence improves brain health. A 2013 study revealed silence stimulates the development of new cells in the hippocampus of the brain.
We want this...actually it is necessity.
It is the hippocampus that is responsible for memory and learning. Does a time of silence work for children? Don’t we want them learning? Don’t we want them able to remember what they learn? Regular times of silence promote brain health. But there is even more. Regular quiet times provide a greater sense of well-being, greater peace, a sense of relaxation, more creativity and greater emotional resilience. Would emotional resilience be a worthwhile character trait in times of stress-or any time during life?
How about this for a summary statement regarding a time of silence in our daily life?
A daily time of silence in the life of every human improves physical and mental health.
This silence means we stop moving. Silence like this means we are not talking. This silence means sacrifice of time. We stop doing other things and make silence a priority. What are our priorities? Can a time of silence be “fit” into our day? The opposite question needs pondering too: What have we been missing without silence each day?
Is this too simple? I am sure you are thinking again. You are saying in your mind, “He expects me to believe that I will be healthier mentally and physically just by being silent for a time each day.”
Exactly.
I saved the greatest argument for including silence in your day and that of your children for last. We begin with a question: Where do humans come from? Parents? Where do they come from? Ancestors? Ok, and where do they come from? This is not which came first, the chicken or the egg. From where do humans originate? No human is an accident. We are created beings, created in the image of God. Life comes from God. God knows how each of us are made, He formed us in our mother’s womb. The Bible tells us God knows the number of hairs on our heads. Does God know what silence will do for each of us? He knows all…and He directs us to silence.
There are three significant truths in the Bible. They come to us from God. Here they are:
1. Be still and know that I am God. God directs us to be still. What is the result of stillness? Knowing God. What do you think? Might this be important?
Here is the formula: Still=know God.
Now the words from God’s word: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10
2. Return to silence, take rest in silence and we will be saved. Saved from what? Saved from our busyness. Saved from preoccupation with things which have no eternal value.
Here is the formula: Returning and Rest=Saved
3. In quietness and trust there is vigor. Does personal vigor sound desirable? Be still.
Here is the formula: Quietness and trust=strength
Now the words from God’s word for 2 and 3: “For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and trust shall be your strength.” But you would not” …Isaiah 30:15
Last questions-
