Silence: Try it, You May Like It

Silence.  Simple, gentle, healing silence.  I meant to do some centering prayer in the front yard on the swing in the twilight the other evening.  The sanctuary dogs decided I would not be able to follow the guidelines for centering prayer but rather for some open eyed, quiet meditation.  I had come home as the sun was setting.  I let the dogs out, sat in the swing with my Sheltie next to me (she needs to be petted frequently), gave up closed eyes & maintained silence.  I watched the dogs settle around me and through the yard, saw several playing, noted the deepening dark with neighbors' yard lights coming on.  I had left my front porch light off on purpose.  As I sat, quietly, without expectation, I saw lightening bugs, then the stars shine.  We sat for about 20 minutes.  Before my timer went off, dogs began to get restless - hmm...a natural rhythm. 

We complain about being busy, about the demands of life...we should also address the noise of life.  Everywhere I go, it seems, is a television.  Why is it assumed we need to be mindlessly entertained during our meals (my hospital cafeteria has three large screen TVs!), our waits in offices, etc.  Would it not be much nicer and calmer for us to have some down time, some time to simply sit and be, to read or converse without artificial stimulation?  What do we find so frightening about silence? 

For one thing, many of us have moved away from it.   When my sister married a rancher and moved from the city to his ranch, the silence was deafening to her.  She frequently drove the 40 miles into town simply to hear noise again.  It took her quite awhile to become accustomed to that silence which she then cherished.  
Our work is no longer governed by the sun or the seasons.  There is no natural rhythm to it as there was with my dogs in repose and then in play.  My sister now lives in town again - she is a type A person.  I have several times told her to simply sit, just sit, for five minutes.  It was hard but she tried and still does on occasion.

When I told a colleague at work how I often spend several days without the radio or television on, she blanched.   I have had no TV for over a year now.  On my radio, I listen to NPR for news, music, comedy but can easily turn it off when the sound becomes intrusive.  I work night shifts; the times I work days make me almost run screaming.  Of course it is better for my bio-rhythms but not for my ears or peace of mind with so many people needing interaction compared to night shifts.

Silence.  Turn off the TV, turn off the radio, turn off the Internet, unplug your phone, spend some time with yourself.   Just sit, just be - get those ear buds out of your ears, no iPods, either!  You, the world and God.  Try it - you may grow to like yourself.  Let me know.