What Will You Do With The Silence?
“Help me to realize that the victories of heaven are the defeats of the human soul. And that my strength is not found in how courageously I struggle but in how completely I surrender.” - Ken Gire
I vaguely remember seeing a movie trailer once that featured a character say, “All that you know is about to change.” I feel like I’m living in a movie. It’s safe to say that no matter who you are, COVID-19 has changed your life in some measure. I remember initially seeing posts on social media encouraging everyone to “get fit” or “go create” or "start a side hustle”. Then just a few weeks later the message turned into “you don’t have to get fit, or create, or start a side hustle.” In my time with the Lord, recently, I arrived at yet another option. Maybe the answer isn’t so black and white, to do or not to do. Maybe it’s a little bit of both.
“Screaming into the Silence”
18x24 stretch canvas, Acrylic and oil pastels
I felt God whisper, “What will you do with the silence?”
While, COVID-19 has not changed the little daily routines of work, and quality time with my girls, it has shut down many of my entertainment escapes. Theme parks, retail stores, restaurants, and even my upcoming trip to New York City have been effected. I’m left only with Netflix binging, social media scrolling and book reading. Over last the last week God’s question had haunted me. What will I do now that the noise has been silenced?
I arrived at two answers. I can continue enjoying the noise with the little entertainment escapes I still have, or I can take time to sit with myself long enough to understand what I truly need. I’ve chosen the latter.
Maybe this is not just my story. Maybe this applies to all of us in some way. Maybe now is the time for you to focus on getting fit, or creating that next masterpiece. Maybe now this is a great opportunity to do absolutely nothing and stop the business, or maybe now you should be reading because you haven’t read in a long time. No matter what you decide, may it be an intentional decision you make after you take the time to understand what you need. Don’t let the silence pass you by. Don’t remain unchanged.
The easy thing for me to do right now is turn on the TV and binge- to fill the void of noise, but I know God is calling me to something more. No one likes to look at themselves in the mirror for too long to see what they are truly in need of, but invite you to do just that. I guess social media was right in a way. Now is the time to do everything and nothing at the same time. It’s been six weeks of quarantine, and I’m just uncovering what I need. It’s not too late to look in the mirror and embrace the silence.
-L