Clearing the Static

I recently was helping my nephew find his “quiet music” station on his radio, which we use for him to help quiet his mind to go to sleep.  We found the station, but for some reason this time it had a lot of static.  You know, like it was between stations are something.  We could hear what “would” have been nice, ambient jazz sounds…but it was clouded by some other frequency ambiguity.  This made me think about my life and the voices I’ve heard over the years (not “those” voices…never had the excitement of experiencing that).  Some voices matched what I felt to be right…many did not.  But my own voice was always clouded by the voices of every other person I chose to “tune in” to instead of my own.

Now I believe in the value of wise counsel and getting other perspectives.  But when those counselors are elevated to dictators, and those perspectives become directions that’s a problem.  Within the last year and a half or so, I have had the privilege of becoming re-acquainted with the sound of my own voice.  Not my physical voice, but the sound of my soul and spirit…my inner voice.  You may call it God, or the Holy Spirit, or whatever your spiritual language is…if you choose to have one.  But that inner part of me that speaks and I know the Truth of the matter, is what I’m referring to.

Some texts refer to this voice as still and small.  I believe the reason it is so still and so small is because there are so many other “competing” frequencies that tend to drown it out.  Whether it’s the news, a boss, a spouse, a pastor/priest/rabbi/etc, our children, our daily activities, friends…just LIFE.  For me, I’ve found that it’s paramount that my day start with some kind of quiet – even if it’s just for a few minutes.  Otherwise, the rest of the day is frenzied and I feel “off” and afloat…and not in a good way.  Taking just a few tender moments to listen to the Truth that resides on the inside means that I am better able to handle the day’s responsibilities and challenges as they come.  Am I always successful in doing this?  No, and there is a distinct difference when it does and doesn’t happen.

This quiet may be silence, or it may be listening intently and harmonizing with the songs of the birds outside my window.  Don’t look at me in that tone of voice…I know this may sound hokey or corny, but there’s something to it.  I’m not an expert on anything except my own experience, so I won’t “tell” you how to find and listen to the Truth within you.  All I can do is remind you that it IS there (in ALL of us), and encourage you to tune in so that your own life is as accurate and ambient as it can be…uninterrupted, clear, and certain.