It seems like the world around us continues to get louder and louder, and yet it has never been truly quiet. We have experienced sounds since the time we were born. Our eyes may have not been able to see much in those early days, and it is true that our hearing was continuing to improve as the ear drum developed into maturity, but high pitched, exaggerated sounds would have gotten our attention.
I live in an area that is typically quiet in the early morning hours. There may be the distant sound from the highway that is not far away, or the lawn mower nearby, but I realize that I am blessed to awake to quiet. It is not silence that I need, but the quiet that I seek. In other words, there are certain sounds that give me comfort and that I probably unconsciously gravitate towards, birds being near the top of that list.
We lived in the UK for almost 5 years and the dawn chorus began as early as 3 am in the summer and it was amazing. It was waking up to a symphony of sounds that I had not heard in the states, as we lived in more populated areas compared to England.
This morning as I was writing this post, and watching the birds at my feeder, I began to reflect upon the last couple of months and it occurred to me how much I have needed quiet moments like this. We have had a summer that has pulled us along in many directions, and few of those directions have offered the quiet peace that I know I need. A quiet peace that each one of us can benefit from each day.
Speaking to my daughter the other day was truly enlightening. I was asking her if she wanted to attend a woman’s weekend conference, and her response was perfect. She agreed that it would be good, but in her opinion she felt what we really needed was to go sit by a pool or on a beach. Of course, I agreed immediately and envisioned myself jumping right into that pool, being immersed, being refreshed, being restored. I know that the vision was symbolic to what I desire. Fundamentally, it was enough to get me thinking that the quiet escape I need right now is what I need right now!
In the question I used the word transmission. What is interesting to note is that the antonym to transmission is quiet.
Mark 1:35-37 CSB Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place; and there He was praying. Simon and his companions searched for Him, and when they found Him they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”