Silent Whispers: by Joey

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In the last several months I have been on a quest to find solace in simple things. And the more I endeavored to find a way to cut through what distracts and preoccupies the more wound I up I have become. Longing for the silence to speak to me in even the smallest of voice, I wrote the following:

 

Silent Whispers: Does the whisper of a songbird bring any joy? Does the revealing of a firefly keep the fire from being destroyed? Does the heart of a turtledove reveal new light? Does the spirit of a butterfly release one's sight? Does a stallion crave running this race? Does a filly know to come alongside with grace? Does a lightning bolt ever strike twice? Does a storm cloud lifting reveal what is wise? Does loving and being loved to make one whole? Does a life, spent giving out ever give back the time it stole? And in the end, does listening to one's inner voice, empower or destroy one's personal choice.

 

Rereading these words I am overcome with the gentle spirit it releases, and find myself wanting to look further into what it takes to be truly quiet. With that in mind I looked up the word silent in a Thesaurus and found the following:

 

It means to be: still, noiseless, peaceful, tranquil, so quiet you could hear a pin drop, voiceless, reticent, uncommunicative, implicit.

 

The word reticent means: unassuming and restrained. The word implicit leads to tight-lipped

 

I find it interesting that in a culture where no one seems to know how to be tight-lipped and many are exercising new rights to have a voice, it is almost impossible to find anywhere tranquil and without noise. As well as the sense of entitlement has run amuck to a point that very few are unassuming, let alone showing any restraint.

 

Moving further in I decided to google silent, which led me to the word see: observe, notice, distinguish, discern, behold, regard.

 

Without realizing it when I am so overloaded with the noise of life...I do see the need to do all of the above, bringing the following verse to mind: 

 

Ecc. 3:3 To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

 

What an important key to remind ourselves to remember seasons do change. It's been a challenging few months and the road ahead still seems to be an all-uphill climb. And yet, if we allow ourselves to look at things through a seasonal routine the silent whispers beyond the noise come alive. In closing this meditation I am aware there is no easy answer. I am also aware that we all have a choice.

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That in itself can be a challenge, to realize others will not always make the choice you would hope as well as set yourself free of choices that feed the ties that bind. If I have learned anything this last year it is to stay true to what gives me hope. There and only there can I hear the quiet consume all that is a dry well. And then, see the healing water of quiet confidence arise.

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