Volume up, awareness down. Phone out of pocket = safety net. Over chatter, the awkwardness avoided. Phew…glad that's over with. I can now go back to my living room, sit back and enjoy some time with the T.V. It doesn't talk back, and I have full control of it. Unless the batteries run out of course. What then? If my phones dies, how can manage my time? If I don''t speak more, the awkwardness begins to emerge. Why is this true? Why do we fear the silence. What is in the silence that's so frightening? Is not our entire culture focused on keeping us from entering silence.
Most all of us (those who might be reading this) have been acculturated to avoid silence at all costs. Unless of course we're experiencing an emotional experience that's acceptable according to your circumstance and your surroundings. Yes, yes there are times to be silent and a time to speak, but who draws that line and to what is the angle drawn at in our lives. We are not only physical. Our society loves to preach the gospel of material existence, but is that all we are. Is the human body simply an organ? Are we only what we can dissect with a scalp and see in a mirror? No, No! We are more. However, we are partly blinded. Somewhere between what we see and what we feel determines what we are. Are we not spiritual?
As Christian's we should understand what we are. We are spiritual beings. This shouldn't come as a shock! The problem is simply the fact that it does, and our culture rejects this notion. Of course it does! Why wouldn't it? The use of rejection is only applicable if something is there to be rejected. In our case it's spirituality and it's being rejected by television, movies, phones, and games. These are not the only forms of distractions either. What about financial success, reputation, pride, image, and comfort. The list is continuous and will continue to grow without restraint or thought. What then is the point of silence?
In order to see you must first hear. The disciple's saw Jesus with their own eyes, but this didn't ensure understanding. Your eyes can deceive you. In order to hear you must read. Read, think, and listen. Maybe then our eyes will adjust to see reality and not just its shadow. "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." James 1:19-21 (Just read the whole chapter)
Most all of us (those who might be reading this) have been acculturated to avoid silence at all costs. Unless of course we're experiencing an emotional experience that's acceptable according to your circumstance and your surroundings. Yes, yes there are times to be silent and a time to speak, but who draws that line and to what is the angle drawn at in our lives. We are not only physical. Our society loves to preach the gospel of material existence, but is that all we are. Is the human body simply an organ? Are we only what we can dissect with a scalp and see in a mirror? No, No! We are more. However, we are partly blinded. Somewhere between what we see and what we feel determines what we are. Are we not spiritual?
As Christian's we should understand what we are. We are spiritual beings. This shouldn't come as a shock! The problem is simply the fact that it does, and our culture rejects this notion. Of course it does! Why wouldn't it? The use of rejection is only applicable if something is there to be rejected. In our case it's spirituality and it's being rejected by television, movies, phones, and games. These are not the only forms of distractions either. What about financial success, reputation, pride, image, and comfort. The list is continuous and will continue to grow without restraint or thought. What then is the point of silence?
In order to see you must first hear. The disciple's saw Jesus with their own eyes, but this didn't ensure understanding. Your eyes can deceive you. In order to hear you must read. Read, think, and listen. Maybe then our eyes will adjust to see reality and not just its shadow. "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." James 1:19-21 (Just read the whole chapter)
