Living unplugged from distractions

Day after day we are bombarded by sounds- machinery working around us, horns blaring, cars rushing past, people yelling and children crying, in home appliances, televisions, young people listening to music even as they walk to and from school- everyone is plugged into sounds all day every day.

But there are days when the greatest sound we can hear is silence. That’s when we really hear the music of nature- the rustling leaves in a gentle breeze, the lapping of waves on the shore as the tide makes its way in, the sweet song of the bird singing the music of its soul. Soothing sounds help us to relax and refresh our mind.

Splash parks are always filled with children enjoying the water and laughing as they run in and out getting wet; just playing as only children know to do. I’m sure the parents and babysitters watching this fun time wish they too could just run in and out of that water spray, laughing as they do, enjoying it like the children, being carefree and childlike once again!

Walking barefoot along the sandy shore, letting the sand work its way in, under and around our toes, then washing off the sand at the water’s edge gives us a few moments of just being- not having to rush to anywhere in particular- just being in that moment!

We need more of these times away from the busyness of life. As we get older we realize the importance of living each moment in peace, finding joy in the little things, having a quiet chat with a friend sipping a cuppa- no hectic agenda cluttering our day and keeping us to a schedule!

Our journey of life and faith can become all too demanding, take away our joy, if we allow it, but when we once again revisit Psalm 46:10a, “Be still and know that I am God”; we are encouraged to be still- let all our stresses and concerns just go- given into God’s hands. He will take care of them and us! When we look for God in the midst of any upheaval we are reminded of the verse in 1 Kings 19:12, “After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.

And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.” God’s voice was not clammering to be heard above the din, but was a gentle whisper, calming our spirits and giving peace in knowing that we are covered and protected no matter what is happening all around us at any given moment.

Each of us should try to unplug, get away from all the noise around us, find our quiet place and then, only then, will we learn to listen to the whispers of our heart; hear God’s whisper assuring us that He is in control and we are where we need to be at that precise moment!

But there are days when the greatest sound we can hear is silence. That’s when we really hear the music of nature- the rustling leaves in a gentle breeze, the lapping of waves on the shore as the tide makes its way in, the sweet song of the bird singing the music of its soul. Soothing sounds help us to relax and refresh our mind.