The Silence

I sat there looking up at the table- there around it stood 6 men- each face seem to be serious-thoughtful- even almost tearful. As they stood there- I looked around at the auditorium containing about 1800 people and noticed as the silence grew so strong you could almost touch it.. It made me (forced me to listen) to hear the sounds of silence. I started thinking about how much it means to be here- surrounded by all of these people who are here for this one reason- this one 'event'- this one ceremony- a remembrance of all our reasons for striving. A blessing that causes us to want so much to serve Him with all of our lives.

I am basically kinda a noisy person...I like to talk- and laugh and play and enjoy life in a big big way. I don't mind loud shopping malls, ball games with all the cheers and noise...I even like being in the student center after chapel. :) Sometimes silence is scary for me-- I don't like being in my house when it is completely empty and when no noise is happening- I do not like going into an empty building where I can't hear anything- I don't like ANY scary movies- sometimes because of the silence that happens right before you know something awful will occur. Then there are times when silence is something I need- crave- must have- those times when I drive in the car and spend time talking with God aloud--those times when I need some peace after a long long day at work-finding out something that hurts me about one our kids--these times of silence are special.....but this-- this few moments- spent each week in a small group or a giant assembly-- these moments where the silences sends us- leads us-even forces us to --all of us, our family of God to stop and be silent. To dwell on the love that our Father and His Son had for us- the silence that is so special for all it represents. And I will be honest- each week by the end of my week- that special silence- is exactly what I need.... ALL I need. The Silence- we all need, we all gain from, we all desire, and we are blessed to share.