The Simple Joys of Sound and Silence

How often I take for granted the gift of my hearing, and along with that, the gift of silence. Yesterday we had another "everyone needs to get out of the house" hikes. Usually we are alone, but yesterday, there were, gasp other children where we hike. These kids were loud. I had never noticed before, but my kids are quiet when we hike. I think it is because we have spent time, listening to the world around us. We listen to the snow crunching under our feet, to the dry leaves rattling in the wind and tapping against the otherwise bare trees, we listen to the water in the distance gently tinkling over the worn rocks. This is our music. It is the most glorious music we could find, because it is that given to us by our Creator.

In the silence we hear sounds that give us hope, the "Spring's here" call of the chickadee, the loud trill of the sandhill crane, a sound we heard yesterday after the other children moved on, and much more. The sound of the crane, in particular, brings such joy. One year, we saw them migrate, but at least two other years, we heard them, without seeing. A simple lesson on faith, we did not need to see to confirm the sound, we just knew. The year I saw them, my daughter did not, she simply had to believe without seeing.

Even though snow still forms muddy piles around our hiking paths, we have faith that spring is hear. The sweet song of the chorus frog could be hear in the silence gently carried by the wind yesterday. The hope that comes from knowing that soon the cold and bitterness are coming to an end,and new life is spring forth, warms us, even while the air is still chill. We could barely hear the frogs, and when you get near them, they stop singing, but even my three year old announced Spring's return upon hearing the frogs.

We are no better than the average family, I get in the car, and turn on the i-pod, we listen to music, or TV or chatter all the time, but sometimes, we are silent. I wish I could say it happened in Church or adoration, but that would be a lie. God has given us a different way to adore him, especially when energy abounds. He gives us his creation, his beauty, his sound and silence.