The following is a quote from Mother Angelica:
"Today everything is noise. You call to order something and you've got to listen to bebop music while you're waiting for the salesperson. You go to the dentist and he's got more music. Like that's going to help when he comes at you with the drill...I suppose you would say, 'Well, I would rather have that than silence in the dental chair." I don't know. Maybe you'd have time to pray. But everywhere we go there has to be something to block our thought patterns. And what does it do? Many time it takes us away from God, just when we need him most."
Mother Angelica had a way of making a point in a very down to earth way.
We live in a very noisy world with something always invading our mind. Even at the grocery store there is music playing in the background (often it's music I don't care to hear). Our minds are even invaded with "silent" noise--our cell phones beckoning us with someone texting or a social media notification.
Think about your own life. How much silence is there in any given day? These noises and distractions in our lives are not bad in themselves. It's the preponderance of them that's the problem. They can often be used by the evil one to drown out the voice of the Holy Spirit within us; or to stifle our conscience.
Take time to examine your life; or just today. Is there time in your life for silence? If not, then look for opportunities to incorporate times of silence each day.
Another good idea is to have an occasional day of silence--no TV, no radio, no music, no social media; only necessary texts or emails. You may be surprised at how attached you are to the noise in your life. And you may be surprised by the voice of God.
In the silence of our days, we hear the voice of God.
