We live in the the age of distraction.  It the age of noise.  It the age of instant gratification.  It is the age of anti-boredom, constant stimulation, ever plugged-in citizens.  We often don’t know what to do with ourselves without the internet, without movies, without our tablets, laptops, cell phones, music players, or TVs.  We feel awkward, like we’re missing something, or missing out.  And we don’t like it.

But, I think it is good to have quiet times.  I think it’s good to have time unplugged, time alone to yourself, time where you can stop, slow down, and reflect. Because…

I believe in the importance {and power} of silence in a multimedia multitasking world.

Did you know that you can’t truly multitask?  Because when you are doing several things at once, it means you are doing none of them at 100%.  And it’s often more telling of the fact that we are easily distracted and perhaps over-worked.  While our brains are capable of flipping from one thought to another very rapidly, it’s not always easy to stay on task, or to do our very best at one particular thing.

I mean, how many of us have tried talking (or listening) to someone on the phone while reading Facebook status updates or watching a movie?  I know I’m guilty sometimes, and I can assure you, the person on the phone is not getting the attention needed to have a good conversation.  With so many multimedia outlets today, it is so easy to try to focus and do so many things at once. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve sat down at the computer to do a particular task (set up an ebill for the utility company), only to be sucked into cyberspace for 30 minutes, getting up from the computer still having never completing my original task.  With so much distraction it’s easy to forget what we are supposed to be doing, supposed to be focusing on.

And that is why silence in a multimedia multitasking world is so important!

Silence forces us to think...

The various multimedia sources out there today are so very passive.  We aren’t actively engaged in life as we sit watching movies or youtube clips, playing words with friends or Angry Birds.  We are passive.  These things don’t take active thought to do or view.  And the internet is full of useless, inactive, unengaged activities.

When we are stripped of these distractions, we are only left with ourselves.

And that is perhaps why some of us prefer the constant noise and distraction.  We then don’t have to come to terms with ourselves.

I read a great book called Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child,a tongue-in-cheek type book that describes ways that a child’s imagination is hampered and destroyed.  One of the points he makes is that if you never have silence, you never have time to imagine: imagine how to come up with a solution to a problem you have in your life, imagine a God, imagine how our lives could go, imagine a new project, imagine a work of art, any of it.  If we are constantly surrounded by noises, media, distractions, we don’t have time to draw inwards, to create something new.

Silence converts us. . .

It is when in silence, that we often stop to think about things of a higher, more profound nature.  It is not while listening to our boss lecture, or while playing a video game.  In silence, we ponder whether there is a God, the significant impact if there is, and how we play out in importance to a God.  It is in silent, quiet moments that we think to pray, to ponder, and to question.  God doesn’t (generally) shout at us or cause miraculous miracles to come to pass right in front of our eyes.  It is when we have moments to reflect that we can recognize God’s hand in our lives.  It is also in quiet, peaceful moments that we recognize our sins and pray for forgiveness for them.

In various scriptures we are shown how God works through silence and peaceful, quiet moments to speak to us, his children (emphasis are mine):

And it came to pass when they heard this voice, and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul– (Helaman 5:30)

Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice saying, (Job 4:16)

And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying, (Acts 21:40)

The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. (Ecclesiastes 9:17)

And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places; (Isaiah 32: 17-18)

It is in quiet moments that we can actually listen, whether to wise men (and women), servants of God like Paul, or to the Lord’s Spirit itself. These people will speak truth, wisdom, and light, if we will just be still, quiet, and silent.  Why do you think it is expected of us to be quiet at churches, temples, libraries, and museums?  When we are free from distraction, we can learn!  And it is when we do that the messages of others and of scriptures and books can actually penetrate our hearts and our minds, giving us peace and happiness.  Noise and distraction are all Satan’s tools to remove us from the peace, calmness, and rest of the Lord.  Silence in a multimedia, multitasking world allows us to come near unto God and further from Satan’s grasp.

When I find moments of Silence. . .

As much as I have at times hated that Josh and I sit with our daughters at nap time and bed time until the fall asleep (see THIS post about why we do), it has afforded me so much quiet time.  For months, I would sit with them, in silence, absent of books, of iPad, of anything.  It forced me to think; although, at first, it was often maniacal thoughts of how to get my children to fall asleep sooner, as I teemed inside with annoyance and anger that they were still awake.  However, as they got better at falling asleep sooner and easier, I was able to relax and to enjoy my quiet time and quiet children.  I often prayed for them, for my failings, for my (at the time) unborn son, for my husband.  I thought about the future, my relationships with others, and my own happiness.

Other times that I am afforded silence is when I run.  When I run, I don’t listen to music.  I’m listening to the wind, my feet hitting the pavement, the sound of dogs barking, geese honking, cars passing.  I’m listening to my breathing, the wind in the trees.  And I’m also listening to my thoughts, over the incessant, annoying children’s song I invariably have stuck in my head that day.  But, between those, I often can think upon my running, about being healthy, about my goals, my dreams, my desires.  And I get great ideas of things to blog about, outlining posts and ideas. And I think about my kids and husband.

I find quiet moments in my daily going-ons, when I take a step back and just slow down and really look at my children and my life.

It is in silence that great ideas can come.  It is in silence that I ponder upon my parenting, my relationships with my spouse and children.  It is in silence, that I realize how blessed I am. In silence I can awe and wonder. It is in silence that I can think clearly.  It is in the quiet moments of our lives that we know ourselves, our weaknesses, strengths, imperfections, and glories.

The importance of silence is a multimedia, multitasking world is greatly under-emphasized and under-practiced.  I encourage us all to carve out time to think, whether it’s in the shower, as we exercise, in the car, before bed, nap time, or at the doctor’s.  Silence will bring us closer to the type of person we want to be.

Do you value silence? Do you make time for it in your busy life?