Silence by Jack Radclife

Silence Jack Radcliffe 4/4/2013 A colleague and I were talking recently about how plugged-in our lives have become and the unintended and unwanted consequences of being “wired.” We started discussing how drained we had been feeling. Realizing that we both begin, end, and fill each day with checking our gadgets for weather, news, Twitter feeds, and Facebook updates brought a deep conviction to the conversation. In the midst of the daily “battles” of relationships, work, finances, and responsibilities (the list goes on), we are worn out and unprepared for what lies before us. A recent study revealed that our addiction to connection has significant damaging effects on our young people. Some teenagers engage in what is called sleep texting. They keep their phones near their beds at night, not wanting to miss anything that might come through and often replying to friends’ texts while still asleep. Such disruptions to healthy sleep patterns deprive them of the ability to begin the day with a full tank of energy, and they affect everything from schoolwork to social interaction to emotional, psychological, and physical health. Too much Facebook has been reported to be associated with depression. Arguably, we have too much stress-producing aural and visual noise in our lives, and it fills the space designed for rest, reflection, and God, hampering our ability to handle the challenges of life. When Joshua led Israel’s army into battle at Jericho (Joshua 6:4-12, NLT), something very odd happened. God’s battle instructions were unusual at best. The spiritual leaders of Israel were to march around Jericho with the box containing the Ten Commandments for seven days. That was it. Just march. They were told not to say a word, to be silent until God told them to shout. They did as instructed, and the walls of the city collapsed. Had the Israelites hastily rushed the city walls, they probably would have been defeated. Victory came as the result of engaging in what I like to call active silence: finding a reasonable pace and rhythm where we can quiet heart, soul, and mind and become more aware of God’s presence. Then we can listen to and rely on him to prepare the way for us. How can we change our life rhythms to make space for active silence? Begin with one step. Take a five- to ten-minute break every hour or two. Get away from the computer and phone. Go for a walk and meditate on a passage of Scripture. If you’re looking for something more, get up thirty minutes earlier or go to bed thirty minutes later. Find a place away from the distractions and temptations of electronic stimuli. Engage in a spiritual practice such as Bible reading, prayer, or journaling. If you struggle with these, try the traditional practice of lectio divina. Whatever practices you choose, remember that they are simply tools to help us connect with the One who made us. Resist the temptation to allow them to become empty routines. Of course, all of this is possible when we put our trust in him. That’s the real challenge.