The Sounds of Silence

Simon and Garfunkel sang to us about the sound of silence decades ago.  Silence like a cancer, words falling like silent raindrops.  It sounds like that sometimes – like loneliness even amid a crowd.  I have heard that silence, probably most of us have at one time or another.

But silence has another sound as well.  It is snow falling peacefully, blanketing the earth with pure whiteness.  It is the first ray of morning light, the one that catches even the birds sleeping.  It is the sound parents hears as they watches the rise and fall of their child’s chest in sleep.  Silence is the sound of your reflection in a calm mountain lake on a still summer afternoon.

O little town of Bethlehem

How still we see thee lie

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

The silent stars go by

We can, with little effort, ignore the sound of silence all together.  The world clamors on and we are caught up in the hustle.  We plunge ahead, ignoring the noiseless shouts of the peace we profess to want, but pointedly ignore.

How silently, how silently

The wondrous gift is given!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of His heaven.

No ear may hear His coming,

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive him still,

The dear Christ enters in.

Shhhh…wishing you silence…