There's a song on the radio by a group called 21 Pilots called "Car Radio". It's basically the thoughts of a young man with a lot of quiet in his vehicle now that someone has stolen his car stereo. "...And now I just sit in Silence..." is repeated over and over.
As a child, silence was my enemy. Church was excruciating, because I knew that as soon as I entered the silence, it wouldn't be silent for long. I had a hard time being still and quiet. It just wasn't part of my genetic make-up. Even when I tried so hard, my mind would bounce from this thought to that thought, and before I knew it I was being shushed again. Apparently my thoughts leaked out in the form of humming, whistling, and in some cases, full out singing and dancing. What's a kid to do?
When I was old enough to drive, my 1972 Cadillac didn't have a car stereo. My friend Terri and I didn't mind, since we were usually bubbling over with the REALLY IMPORTANT conversations of two teen girls full of an intense love of life (and teenage boys). Boys were discussed for hours, and girls were discussed without mercy. I remember once on a Late Night Taco Bell Run when we just sat in silence. Terri's feet were out the window on a warm summer night, and it was quite calm and comfortable. Until a bat hit our windshield on Terri's side of the car, causing her to scream at the top of her lungs, yanking her feet into the car, and nearly giving me a heart attack! The silence was over for that night! E-gads!
It wasn't until I was much older that I started to feel comfortable in the silence. The silence of holding my babies and watching them sleep in my arms is the most wonderful kind of feeling. It feels the most like Heaven. In fact...
The most profound silence I've ever experienced happened in a room full of rush and hurry and panic. I was blissfully unaware of the chaotic fight for my life going on around me. I, however, was enjoying that kind of quiet when the baby is fed and bathed and sweetly sleeping.I was held in the arms of my Creator. It was a silence so deep, so perfect that even my heart stood still. I didn't even break the silence with my breath. I just sat in silence. I wasn't alone, and it wasn't scary. My thoughts stopped, except for the knowledge that I was being loved...in that silence.
I'm back from that silence. My life is full of sounds and things to do and people to love. My home is full of music and laughter and silliness, and people who are happy I'm here, and that I treasure in return. I have parties to throw and celebrations to attend! I have so much of life still to live!
But there are times when I just sit in silence. Remembering. Being loved. Loving.
How do you sit in silence?
"I ponder of something terrifying
'Cause this time there's no sound to hide behind
I find over the course of our human existence
One thing consists of consistence
And it's that we're all battling fear
Oh dear, I don't know if we know why we're here
Oh my, too deep, please stop thinking
I liked it better when my car had sound"
21 Pilots Car Radio
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