The Sound Is Silenced…
January 1, 1970
Sometimes there are sounds which at first we are only vaguely aware of, intrusive, insistent
sounds which don’t quite break through to our full consciousness; the throbbing of a motor, the roar of
traffic, the worrisome sound of the wind, the hiss of escaping steam, the pervasive sound of an air- conditioning system. Often we are aware of such sounds only as an unpleasant background – as
something that makes us tense and ill at ease. And then suddenly something is shut off; suddenly the
sound ceases – and there is quiet, blessed quiet; and a sense of peace. And only then do we become
altogether aware of the disturbing effects of the sound as we feel the relief and relaxing that come
when it suddenly ceases. There is a striking parallel to this physical phenomenon in the insistent
unheard sounds that sometimes make us inwardly ill at ease: the background of an unquiet conscience;
of jealousies and jarring thoughts; of inner resistance and resentments; the accusations that follow our
failing to do what we know we should do, our failing to perform as fully as we should; the accusations
that come when we have turned away someone we could have helped; the futility that follows too
much striving for things that don’t matter too much – the discontent of wasting time; the inner
accusations that come with unkindness, with harsh words and hate, with judging others unjustly. And
then there comes (or can come) a release, a peace, as if an offending sound were silenced – the peace
that follows the changing of a inner attitude, the admitting of an error, the leaving of bad habits behind,
of putting aside false pride, of ceasing to do wrong, of trying to do right. There comes (or can come) a blessed silencing of the inner jarring sounds. There come (or can come with apology, with prayer, with sincere repentance) such peace and blessed relief as come when a disquieting sound ceases within our
very souls.