Finding Quiet

Two days ago the lights in our house flickered several times during a severe thunderstorm. I held my breath and hoped we wouldn’t lose power. During the brief interludes when the power was down, I realized how very quiet it was. It wasn’t the first time I’d experienced this quiet in the midst of a storm. Several times the silence has awakened me when the power has gone out in the middle of the night. It’s not the storm that wakes me; it’s the overwhelming silence after the storm, in a powerless house, that jars me from sleep. It is when these outages occur that I am reminded of the constant hum I live in. The continuous whirl of the electronic devices, the refrigerator, the computer, the lights and dishwasher, the fan blowing the air, day and night there is a constant hum. So, it is startling when I find myself in a place that is silent; startling and wonderful.

The older I get the more I appreciate quiet moments. As much as I love the noisy, crazy, zany fun when my grandchildren visit, I also love the quiet following their departure. I wouldn’t give up a moment hearing them laugh, call to me, or chatter happily while playing. Admittedly, I already miss them while we’re still waving goodbye, but I have grown to appreciate the quiet that enfolds me as I turn back inside the house as they drive away.

I think I’ve needed more quiet moments in my life for a long time. I wish I had sought them and learned to appreciate them earlier, but, I’m glad that my life has more of these peaceful interludes now. By nature I’m not a quiet person. I’m a talker, laugher, music maker, whistling mama! Much of the noise I live with is noise that comes from ME. When God said, “Be still and know that I am God,” I think that He must have been speaking directly to me and all the other noise makers in this world. Despite my noisy personality, good things happen when I’m quiet. I feel calmer, I think more clearly, and life in general seems much less harried.

Quiet moments ARE moments that matter. Quiet moments refresh me and revive me. Quiet moments remind me of who I am and Who created me. It is good to have moments that matter, refresh, revive and remind. Because these things are good, I find it very important to be deliberate in my pursuit of silent moments. I have to make quiet times happen. The world at large is a noisy, bustling, busy, place and I find it hard not to bustle right along with it.

Today I found myself in the woods by a beautiful pond. I wasn’t expecting a quiet moment. I was with my husband on a lovely, fun-filled outing. But for a few minutes, with my back against a tree, watching him some distance away photographing some of the autumn scenery, it was beautifully silent; startling and wonderful.

Hoping you find some quiet moments that matter today! Enjoy some of my pictures from today: