Quiet Please

Spiritual Training Cycle: Foundation (wk. 9/13)

Reading: James 1:19-25

Silence the Noise Out There!

In the opening scene of the award-winning movie, For Love of the Game, we meet injury-riddled veteran Tigers pitcher Billy Chapel (played by Kevin Costner). He is on the baseball mound, zeroing in on his first pitch at Yankee Stadium in a game at the twilight of his career.  The cacophony of sounds around him include the elevated train behind center field, 56,000+ adversarial fans - including hecklers behind home plate - the announcer, the stadium sound system and people blowing horns and calling him names.

But as he begins his wind-up, you experience him “silencing the noise around him” to focus on home plate and the batter in front of him.

In a study published in the New York Times in 2019 titled The Quiet Brain of the Athlete, the researchers discovered that, “The brains of fit, young athletes dial down extraneous noise and attend to important sounds better than those of other young people.”

One other data point: researchers interested in determining what made an all-star-caliber NBA free throw shooter have zeroed in on what they call the “Quiet Eye.”  It seems hitting 90% plus of free throws in a season has less to do with physical prowess and more to do with simplifying the distractions and focusing one’s mind.

Silence the Noise In Here!

If you are like me, at times the worst “noise” is not outside but inside.  It’s the running commentary I have with myself.  It’s the judgements I internalize about other people.  It’s the distractions I let play out in my mind. A recent statistic on the internet indicated as much as 46% of our thoughts on a daily basis were these internal distractions that bring us down.

The ability to silence this type of noise is particularly important for those of us who aspire to be spiritually fit. Silence is a deep focus on God by turning off the world around us. Indeed, when we learn to practice this type of personal silence, the Bible tells us we are on the road to becoming wise. In his letter to young Christians written 15 or 20 years after the resurrection of Jesus, James (who was Jesus’ half-brother) challenged them with this:

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” — James 1:19-20

I think Ted Lasso was on to this truth when he reminded former soccer-club owner Rupert that “it is better to be curious than judgmental.” Their classic dart match from the hit television show where Ted shares this bit of wisdom has been watched more than seven million times on YouTube!

How can you and I do a better job of quieting our inner opinions, anger, and self-centered frustrations so that we can be “curious rather than judgmental?” One of the reasons so many Christians have practiced for hundreds of years a morning discipline of bible reading, reflection and prayer is because it helps to silence the noise and self-centered distractions that pop into our heads continually.  What similar habits have you engaged in to silence this noise?

Questions for Reflection:

What would it take for you to become better at “quick to hear and slow to speak?”

What would it look like for you to find your own rhythm of daily spiritual practices?

How would a closer relationship with God keep you from the bad type of anger that James mentions?

Bliss

Spiritual Training Cycle: Foundation (wk. 8/13)

Reading: Revelation 7:13-8:1

Back in my corporate days, I had a work trip which took me to Scottsdale, Arizona. If you’ve never been, it’s a beautiful place. We were granted an afternoon off, which I used to enjoy a trail run and some time at the resort’s pool.

Sitting poolside taking in the soon to be setting sun, my phone rang. I picked it up, answered it, and had a brief conversation with a business colleague. As I put my phone away, a pool attendant walked over and handed me a small business card. I looked down, read the phrase, and put my phone on do not disturb. The three words still ring in my head today – silence is bliss.

Parents, back me up here. There’s something about that moment when all the babies are asleep, or all the kids are back in school. That peaceful moment when you sit back, take a deep breath, and let the silence of the moment deliver its well-intended joy. And bliss is a great word to describe it. Simply put, bliss means, “great joy.” There is great joy in silence. But not all the time.

For example, if you’ve ever been in a community fitness class when an athlete dropped an empty barbell, the silence that follows is anything but bliss. It’s more like a collective breath hold by the rest of the class while the coach decides how to “provide feedback.” There’s the silence that comes in the eye of the hurricane, or when the bombings in the Middle East momentarily cease. Not all silence is bliss.

I think this may be why people battle with silence. A study back in 2017 revealed how undergrad college students struggled with silence. Bombarded with constant background media, our culture has created a mass of people who fear silence instead of embracing it.

Perhaps that’s you. Let’s find out. Quick, turn off all the noise where you are. For many of you, that’s not even possible because there’s noise you can’t control. We struggle to find silence because we can’t escape the noise. Which is why I believe the spiritual exercise of silence is so beneficial.

Silence is a deep focus on God by turning off the world around us. But as we all know, it’s not always easy to turn off the outside world. And perhaps even more difficult is turning off our internal noise. Replaying in your mind what your boss said or the parent teacher conference or the tragic news about a loved one. It’s what makes silence challenging. But as I always say, what challenges you is what changes you. And silence is a great space to face your feelings head-on.

Let’s say you’re facing some financial issues in life. Maybe you’re in a profession that’s been hit hard by the economy, or you’ve been forced to take a lower paying job. If that’s you, then you’re probably asking God when this is going to be over. Underneath that question are some deeper feelings, and silence, or quiet time with God, gives you the space to sit with those deeper feelings.

Maybe you tie your value to your work. Maybe financial instability is a soul wound from your childhood. No amount of background media or “noise” will help you confront the truth. Instead, try placing yourself in a quiet room as free from noise as possible and invite God into the silence with you. Let Him guide you through the process of uncovering the why behind your why. Silence with God is bliss.

When the disciple John was imprisoned on an island to await his death, he had a vision. A vision of what was to come. John’s encapsulation of that vision is the book of Revelation. Near the mid-point of the book, John has seen Jesus open six seals of a scroll. Each time a seal was opened, a judgment occurred on earth. Each of the judgments came with pain and distress. But then, just before the seventh seal is opened, John sees a great multitude of Heaven gathering. And he hears these words about the multitude:

Therefore,

“they are before the throne of God    

and serve him day and night in his temple;

and he who sits on the throne    

will shelter them with his presence.

‘Never again will they hunger;    

never again will they thirst.

The sun will not beat down on them,’    

nor any scorching heat.

For the Lamb at the center of the throne    

will be their shepherd;

‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’    

‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

-- Revelation 7:15-17

What’s to come? No more hunger. No more thirst. Eternity with the Lamb of God as they drink from springs of living water. No more tears. No more sorrow. So what did Heaven do? They were silent in the presence of God!

When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

-- Revelation 8:1

Silence with God is bliss. Heaven knew of His eternal peace. And His eternal peace can be yours too.

Questions for Reflection:

What are some feelings you need to face with God?

When is silence peaceful for you? When is it not?

Healthy Silence

Spiritual Training Cycle: Foundation (wk. 7/13)

Reading: Psalm 46:1-11

In 2014, Kansas City Chiefs fans at Arrowhead stadium set a Guinness World Record for the loudest sports arena in the world at 142.2 decibels. The away team quarterback had to hold his hands over the ear holes of his helmet in an attempt to quiet the noise of the crowd and hear the coach’s play. The quarterback would have benefited from a moment of silence in order to hear the most important voice. The same is true for us in our everyday lives: silence allows us to hear guidance from the most important voice.

As the quarterback of our lives, we experience the roaring sounds of our work, city life, sometimes our children (the adorable but noisy blessings that they are), the news, social media, and the clamor of other sounds that pile up around us. When we do manage to find some quiet time, we still feel the buzz of all that sensory input ringing in our ears, giving very little relief. Many of us are still bombarded with our own thoughts and worries about our responsibilities during this quiet time. These ruminating thoughts consist of all the things we think we aren’t doing, things we should be doing, ways we’ve failed in the past, or ways we could fail in the future. This type of “noise” is just as deafening as a crowded Arrowhead Stadium. 

That’s why we need some healthy silence. The kind of silence that allows us to focus on God by turning off the world around us. Why is silence so hard for us to sit in?

True “silence” is hard to achieve because learning to quiet our own negative inner voice is just as hard as quieting the world around us. The noise of our negative thoughts feels overwhelming and inescapable. But we make progress when we not only seek silence but also seek to hear the types of thoughts that serve us best. We need to hold our hands to our ears and focus on the most important voice, God! He gives us the play calls for our life. God’s voice will stand above the crowd and tell us what we truly need to hear.

The “noise” of the world now is no different than it was in the time of the writing of the Psalms. In Psalm 46:6 the choir sings of this noise and of God’s response,

“Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; He lifts His voice, the earth melts.”

Amidst the uproar of nations, God’s voice melts it all away. God’s voice will be made heard above it all. What God says to melt it all away is what is so powerful. In Psalm 46:10, He says,

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

For me personally, I don’t know if I have enough strength to stand against the noise of the crowd. I don’t know if I have enough power to silence the negativity of the nations. I don’t know how to survive the flood of fear and anxiety the world dumps on me.

But what I do know is I can rest assured God will be enough. He will help me to weather these storms and He will be above all - the crowds, the nations, and the earth. Be still, my thoughts. Be still, my worries. Be still, my frustrations. Stillness and silence are our best opportunities to tune out the world’s voice and tune into God’s voice.

Be still, and know that He is Lord. Soak in silence and receive His goodness!

Questions for Reflection:

What is something that has been keeping you from appreciating silence?

What are some things that God has been revealing to you in your times of silence?