I don't consider the solitude of nature to be "true" silence, to be honest. It's not the womblike aloneness of a sensory deprivation chamber, or a hermit's cave where the only sounds might be the crackle of a fire or the clockwork drip of water down some immemorial flue of stone. It's... more like listening to the world going about its business as God intended. And it's quite noisy, as the last stanza of your poem illustrates perfectly. The song of birds. The babble of a creek. Some little critter scrabbling about in the bushes. All His voice. It's the heartbeat of the world, and when we hear it our souls yearn for Eden.
This is an extraordinarily helpful perspective! Like many, I chide myself for not seeking out places of silence, as if that were the be all, end all of communion with God. The notion that silence may be both unattainable and overrated is a powerful insight, especially coupled with the idea of a “pause.” Psalm 46:10 says to “Be still” -- or as one translation puts it, “Cease striving.” I can actually accomplish that now and then!
Moving to the South is the closest I’ve ever been to silence/quiet. For the first time in my life, I can look up, pause, and see the stars and realize how small I really am but yet loved by God.
I love this. You’ve made some great points here. Almost all my runs are in nature but it is rarely silent. Even when I come to a remote, secluded place it’s not completely quiet. But when I intentionally pause, really become mindful that’s when I’m in a good contemplative place. Thank you for this.
I think many of us are feeling a sudden need for silence and it is nearly impossible to find these days. However, as S.E. Reid so eloquently states in this article, perhaps we can find those moments to truly "pause".
One of my favorite scriptures is Psalms 46:10. "Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." I interpret this to mean to pause and make a place to listen to our loving Heavenly Father. Especially after prayer. It's easy to forget Him during the day, but when I take time to pause, I can hear Him.
I was in my little tent a few nights ago and it was so quiet I listened to my heartbeat and the swishing sound of blood coursing through my arteries. And the one awareness in my otherwise quiet mind was that I am a heartbeat and I am a thought.
I chose to live in an area where silence was the norm. So far it has stayed that way. I treasure what I have.
I don't consider the solitude of nature to be "true" silence, to be honest. It's not the womblike aloneness of a sensory deprivation chamber, or a hermit's cave where the only sounds might be the crackle of a fire or the clockwork drip of water down some immemorial flue of stone. It's... more like listening to the world going about its business as God intended. And it's quite noisy, as the last stanza of your poem illustrates perfectly. The song of birds. The babble of a creek. Some little critter scrabbling about in the bushes. All His voice. It's the heartbeat of the world, and when we hear it our souls yearn for Eden.
This is an extraordinarily helpful perspective! Like many, I chide myself for not seeking out places of silence, as if that were the be all, end all of communion with God. The notion that silence may be both unattainable and overrated is a powerful insight, especially coupled with the idea of a “pause.” Psalm 46:10 says to “Be still” -- or as one translation puts it, “Cease striving.” I can actually accomplish that now and then!
Very thoughtful and thought provoking...
Such beauty ❤️
Moving to the South is the closest I’ve ever been to silence/quiet. For the first time in my life, I can look up, pause, and see the stars and realize how small I really am but yet loved by God.
but the roar of the waves
and the testimony of the gulls
to form
their gospel.
I love this. You’ve made some great points here. Almost all my runs are in nature but it is rarely silent. Even when I come to a remote, secluded place it’s not completely quiet. But when I intentionally pause, really become mindful that’s when I’m in a good contemplative place. Thank you for this.
I think many of us are feeling a sudden need for silence and it is nearly impossible to find these days. However, as S.E. Reid so eloquently states in this article, perhaps we can find those moments to truly "pause".
Be still and know... (Psalm 46:10)
One of my favorite scriptures is Psalms 46:10. "Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." I interpret this to mean to pause and make a place to listen to our loving Heavenly Father. Especially after prayer. It's easy to forget Him during the day, but when I take time to pause, I can hear Him.
Lovely poem, and meditation
I like your Tip Jar - how does one set it up? I also have a Paypal account and I don’t like Substack’s subscription model, don’t use it for my own Substack https://dsimpson.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=substack_profile
Hi David, and thank you!
If you already have a PayPal account it should be pretty easy to set up: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/
Once you set up your link you can insert it into your posts as a custom button. Easy-peasy!
Many thanks Sarah - I’ll do that
This amazing S.E. I rarely seek silence and often have to fight myself to pause.
I love the dichotomy your illustrated between the two. It made it apparent I could be more intentional about adding a bit more of both to my life
I was in my little tent a few nights ago and it was so quiet I listened to my heartbeat and the swishing sound of blood coursing through my arteries. And the one awareness in my otherwise quiet mind was that I am a heartbeat and I am a thought.
I like it, S.E. Pause seems to convey waiting, listening. Did you hear that? And nice poem!