“What is that traffic light doing in class?”
“What did you say?”
“What is my ‘inside voice’?”
Our world has become noisier in so many ways and in so many places. Haven’t you noticed it?
Even when we go to the pond to sit peacefully and throw our hook out to see if we get any bites, the sounds of the road or highway or, sometimes, the interstate intrude.
A vehicle with a loud, loud, loud motor, muffler or sound system roars by. Lawn mowers and weed eaters grumble and lash out with noise.
Noise is increasing, and we are affected by it.
The noisiest city in the United States? New York.
The quietest state in the United States? Montana.
I know it was very difficult to keep my classroom of students at an acceptable level of noise. Sure, we needed to talk and ask questions. Students needed time to discuss how to solve problems. Doing learning activities come with some levels of movement, talk and noise increasing.
Hence, the stop light, or noise measuring machine, showed up in class. When the noise levels were at an acceptable level, the light was green. When noise and sounds increased too much, the light was yellow. Of course, when the sound was unacceptable, the light turned red and signaled everyone to calm down, quieten down and be aware of how much noise they were making.
We tell children to learn to use their “inside voice,” but so many children don’t know what an “inside voice” is. Homes are full of noise. The louder one person talks, the louder others get to be heard over them. The TV or music is turned up to be louder, so they can hear. Then everyone gets louder. Soon, we suffer the consequences.
God knows. We need quiet in our lives for our mental, physical and spiritual health. He says in Psalms 46:10-11, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted on the earth.”
Jesus went into the hills or mountains to pray as well as other places. Luke 6:12: “In these days he went into the hills to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God.”
He spent time alone with God.
Jesus went to quiet places to pray and meditate.
What does that tell us?
