SILENCE

I was in the desert once. I worked for this mortgage company and had to check on vacant properties.

The desert was part of my territory. And I didn’t mind going there. Just always was so much more quiet that the regular city.

Such a much slower pace of living. Couldn’t imagine ever wanting to call such a place home.

I have never been one that truly enjoyed complete silence. Not that I like lots of noise either.

But I do enjoy having some kind of sound that fills the emptiness and tends to make things more controlled in terms of distractions. Makes it easier for me to concentrate on my writing.

On one of my trips to the desert I gave this hitchhiker a ride. This was years ago when times were different and felt safer about such things.

He wasn’t going that far, since he did live in that area, but as we rode we chatted. And he mentioned that he had moved to the areas a few months earlier.

I asked him if he enjoyed the slow pace of life and all the silence. He admitted that at first it was hard.

But he said once he got used to it that he really enjoyed it. I did sort of admire that, yet didn’t have a desire to try it myself.

There are times though when silence really does help. Not so much in terms of complete lack of sound.

But in terms of the end of chaos. Those moments when you are filled with all those dark feelings and bad thoughts.

It might not last forever. But sure is tranquil when it happens. And for me that truly is something that only happens with the Lord.

Just some time when I am alone and my mind can simply be free to drift away from any concerns. I only go part way before the Lord’s spirit touches.

It come in such different ways. Anger subsides, love flows, somehow the past doesn’t matter.

And I know it is the Lord’s doing. Totally grateful for His mercy. It is the silence of my soul that is able to cherish His grace.