July 2007

 

The Sounds of Silence

 

On my way back from Camp Mitchell and the Robert R. Brown Camp, I found a radio station that was playing “golden oldies.” The first and only song I listened to was Simon and Garfunkel's, The Sounds of Silence . After listening to the song I decided to turn off the radio and just reflect back on those moments we used silence as an important part of our worship and Christian Education experience at camp.

Our theme was from one of the Good Shepherd passages in the Gospels, John 10:27. “My sheep hear my voice and I know them.” We also focused on listening to one another's voice as a way to be a “good neighbor.”

We had periods of silence in both our worship and in the classroom. The reaction to the periods of silence was interesting. One camper, and only one camper, had some trouble with the silence and interrupted the silence with a single short sound, but then he was silent as were all the other campers. However, several of the campers would hold their ears and even try and exit an activity that included some louder than normal singing or cheering. There was just too much sound for them at too high an auditory level.

One of my fond summer memories was sitting on the porch of my grandparent's house in
Carthage , Missouri, with my grandfather as he smoked his after dinner cigar. The two of us would sit in the swing and be silent. Whenever I would try and say something or make a sound, he would gently remind me that our purpose was to sit together and to listen to the sounds of the night in order that we might enjoy what old and maybe new sounds we would hear that evening. After long periods of silence he would turn to me and ask, “Well, what did you hear?” And we would talk about what we heard. He taught me about the differences in the sounds of tree frogs and crickets and all kinds of night music. He ended our sessions with, “I think I heard an angel. You'd better hurry and get ready for bed and say your prayers. You don't want to keep an angel waiting!”

Scientists tell us that we are living in the noisiest age of any generation and that the noise levels are seriously affecting our hearing and our abilities to concentrate for long periods of time of single tasks. We need silence and we especially need those times of listening to voice of God calling us to “be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

This summer find your place of silence. Try coming to church midweek and just sitting and listening. Try turning off the T.V. or other noisemakers and seeking silence in your house. Seek out the silence and be still and listen. The Good Shepherd hears your voice. Now let us all be quiet and listen for His.

 

In Christ,

Fr. Ken †