The Sounds of Silence

As my students read quietly in class, (for that I have Andrew Peterson's Wingfather Saga to thank, they actually want to read it), it occurs to me that our world today rarely has any peace and quiet.  From the moment we wake up, until our day ends, most of us are surrounded by noise.  The proliferation of ipods and mp3 players has only made this trend more complete.  If we want to, we can avoid silence altogether.  This need for noise has advanced enough that some people cannot sleep when it is quiet, nor can they concentrate without background noise.  (Some of my students listen to their ipod while reading, "I can't read, it's too quiet" has been said often enough). 
How does this impact our ability to "listen" to what God has to say in our lives?  If we don't take the time to stop and think, to ponder our lives, won't we miss out on that "still small voice" with which the Holy Spirit prods us?  One of the reasons that I prefer to run in the wood is because the solitude and quiet are invigorating.  In those moments, my mind is open, much more so than it can be when the TV is on, or simply the sounds of an industrialized world surround me. 
Do yourself a favor, make the time in your busy schedule to get outside and enjoy God's Creation, or curl up with a good book and shut out life's distraction.  You'll be amazed at what it does for your mood.  Remeber, even God needed a rest on the 7th day.