Noise

Yesterday I was so frustrated, but couldn't really put my finger on what. After I got to Jack's after Bible study, I realized what it was. I am surrounded my NOISE. Superfluous noise. Everywhere. And part of it is my own fault, because as an American I am not comfortable with silence or quiet. There is always something on in the background, whether it's a radio or TV or the sound of the interstate. Yesterday I had just had enough. I was craving silence and because I am not familiar with that desire, I was just frustrated. Working at a TV station certainly doesn't help.

Silence is healthy and it's something I am learning. Last night and today I've tried to be aware of the superfluous noise around me. I didn't turn the radio on just to have it on, I muted the TV at work, which I usually do any way, and I don't have music on now. I'm just tired of noise that is not edifying in any way. Sure, sometimes background noise is ok, but not for me right now. I need a break!

Something else that goes along with noise is the constant busyness and movement from the city. I think I surprised Jack last night when I said, "I'm so tired of Knoxville!" I don't mean it, but I do... If you live in Knoxville or visit occasionally, then you know how terrible traffic is here. There is never a good time for traffic, especially on the interstate. And in keeping with my theme, it's so LOUD. I just want everyone to go home to their families or to their jobs and stay there and not drive constantly. On the flip side, it makes me appreciate the mountains so much more. Of course they are busy now b/c of the leaves, but even so, you can find QUIET. And it makes me appreciate the smallness of Alcoa and Maryville in ways I never thought possible. When I was growing up, I never said, "I want to go to Alcoa." My how things change.

Anyway, in my quest for silence and quiet, it drives me to the Lord. I looked in my trusty ESV Bible and there are tons of verses with the word "quiet." But my favorite one, one of my favorite verses anyway, is Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst,a mighty one who will save;he will rejoice over you with gladness;he will quiet you by his love;he will exult over you with loud singing. So now when I am overwhelmed with noise and rushing, I am going to try to remember the Lord quieting me with his love. And in 1 Thessalonians, Paul says a few times to "live quietly". Which is hard to do in this culture. Whenever someone does live quietly, we think they are weird. I think the challenge is to not be a recluse and still reach out, but find the balance between that and the silence we need. How do you do that? How do you find silence?

Well I think that is plenty of thought for today. Earlier, someone dropped off a press release for a "Jim Smith Society." He said, "I am Jim Smith for the Jim Smith Society." I thought cool, we could all have our own society. But evidently it is an organization for people with the name Jim Smith. There are 1800 people in it!

Today is very gloomy. I have some "homework" to do and I think I will start a new book "Running With Scissors." I want to see the movie, but if it was a book first, I like to read it before I see it. Have a lovely, quiet day.