bythemethod.com blog

There is noise everywhere. Those who live in Cities rarely avoid it altogether and even in the countryside it can be hard to escape from some noise or another. So how do we find ways to be silent and does it really matter that we can’t?

Do you ever wonder if you will ever get away from the noise?

I do.

We live in a world that is full of noise. If you walk down any ordinary street you will hear all kinds of noise: cars passing, lawnmowers mowing, planes flying overhead, teenagers on mopeds, music beats from peoples windows and mobile phones ringing etc.

Most of this noise is just a part of life and thankfully our brains have a filter system to stop us taking notice of most of these noises.

However there is another noise we can’t escape and that is the noise we generate in our own heads.

We all have a little voice that rattles away in our head with all kinds of stuff. Some of that stuff is good, some of it is very bad but most of it is pointless prattle.

One of the developments in modern society is our need to have an opinion on everything. Newspapers - once filled with news - are now filled with opinion. Even the television news is punctuated with the opinion of the newsreaders. It is getting hard not to have an opinion.

Having the right to an opinion is different to having an opinion

We should have the right to an opinion - no matter how wrong that opinion might be. This does not mean that we should have an opinion about everything. For instance I think we should have an opinion on global warming or world peace but not on whether my neighbour should have purchased the red car rather than the blue.

We fill our lives with constant opinion and never stop to let ourselves hear the silence

One of the most profound experiences any of us can ever have is to have a time of silence. It must be deliberate and not just happen. We need to find a place where we can be silent and choose to be silent. Many people seek out a monastry or convent for this experience but you don’t have to do this.

Choose a time and a place and just be silent. Don’t read a book or listen to music or anything else - just be silent.

There will be noises all around you - there are few places in the world that are perfectly silent - but just ignore them.

Silence is an experience to enjoy

Try to shit out your inner voice. Let it prattle on for a bit and then start to silence it by stopping having an opinion on everything. Stop it from talking altogether if you can.

At first you may find the silence a little overwhelming and even frightening. Don’t give up. Let yourself learn to enjoy the silence.

Start to listen

It is in these times of silence that God can speak. Start to listen for God. God may not speak in words to you but if you have enough silence you will start to experience God in a deeper and fuller way.

It takes time and sometimes a lot of time but please persist. Let the still small voice of God speak to you.