iPods, iPhones, text messaging, e-mail, social networking, video and audio input are all screaming for our attention.
It’s funny how the absence of something in your life causes you to be more aware of its impact and value. The other day, all of my roommates were away from home and I was left in the still quiet of an empty house. I found myself purposely avoiding the television, the internet, or anything else that might disturb the rare peace of this environment. It didn’t take long, however, before I became bored and uncomfortable. Suddenly I realized that I was alone with my thoughts, with no external stimulus, with no distractions, no diversions. What was initially peaceful began to seem strange and unnatural as I experienced what could best be described as media withdrawal symptoms.
How did I get to this point?
We live in a society that is screaming at the top of its lungs, demanding that we pay attention, demanding that we consume. Media can potentially saturate every moment of our day, if we allow it. Often I find myself going so far as to be lulled to sleep by the T.V., never allowing myself a break from the noise. If I’m not listening to music in the car, the boredom seems unbearable. It seems as though I’ve allowed this idea of silence – of undisturbed peace and stillness – to become something completely foreign to me.
What are the implications of living this way?
The Bible makes it clear that the voice of the Lord is heard in silence and in stillness. I’m reminded of the story of the prophet Elijah, in which the Lord tells Elijah to stand on a mountain top in “the presence of the Lord” (1 Kings 19:11). Then, as if to make a point about the nature of His revelation, the Lord causes a great wind to erupt, followed by an earthquake and a fire. The author of the account makes clear, however, that Lord is not in these things. Instead, God’s voice arrives in what the NIV calls a “gentle whisper” (19:13). Perhaps we are allowing our society to drown out the gentle whispers of God. Imagine what we could be missing!
Now, am I suggesting that our computers and our iPods are inherently evil? Of course not! I would, however, like to suggest that we would allow ourselves time and space to experience peace, solitude, and silence, in order to hear the voice of our Lord.
In my own experience, I’ve found this practice of silence to be exceedingly difficult. It seems as though I’ve fed my mind in such a way that it craves noise and constant engagement. I’m going to try to be more proactive about fostering “unplugged moments,” in which I choose to seek the Lord in stillness. You might consider trying it yourself. I fear that by allowing ourselves to be continually bombarded by the clatter of our culture, we may be stifling the very voice of God.